— - 


Inmes   filler,  522 


SINTRAM 


FROM  THE  GERMAN 

OF 

DE  LA   MOTTE  FOUQUE. 

(JEbiiion,  foiilj  Illustrations. 


NEW    YORK: 
JAMES    MILLER,    PUBLISHER, 

622     BROADWAY. 


NOTICE  OF  SINTEAM. 

(FROM  THE  AUTHOR'S  PREFACE  TO  HIS  SELECTED  WORKS.) 


"  FOLKO  of  Montfau^on  was  and  is  peculiarly 
endeared  to  my  heart  as  a  trne  type  of  that  old 
French  chivalric  glory  which  now  only  emerges  in 
individual  appearances, — for  instance,  beautifully 
in  the  Vendean  wars,  which,  though  failing  in 
victory,  were  rich  in  honors.  With  these  feelings, 
the  poet  could  not  forbear  from  arraying  him  in 
the  colors  of  his  own  escutcheon,  and  assigning  to 
him  the  emblems  of  the  same,  and  even  in  some 
measure  denoting  him  by  his  own  ancestral  name  ; 
for  Foulqne  we  were  called  in  old  tunes,  which 
was  probably  derived,  according  to  our  Norman 
descent,  from  the  Northlandish  name  Folko,  or 
Fulko  ;  and  a  castle  'Montfau9on'  was  among 
our  ancient  possessions.  But  here  that  only  prop- 
erly concerns  the  noble  pair,  Folko  and  Gabrielle, 
as  interwoven  in  the  tale  of  '  Sintram.'  The  tale 


10  PREFACE. 

itself  is  the  offspring  of  my  own  fantasy,  imme- 
diately suggested  by  Albreeht  Durer's  admirable 
wood-cut  of  '  The  Knight,  Death,  and  Satan,' 
the  birthday  gift  of  a  former  friend,  with  the 
happy  proposal  that  I  should  frame  from  it  a 
romance  or  a  ballad.  It  became  more  than  this  ; 
and  the  present  tale  shows  it  to  be  so,  being  sup- 
ported by  divers  traditions,  in  part  derived  to  me 
orally,  of  the  Germanic  northern  customs  in  war 
and  festivity,  and  in  many  other  relationships  be- 
sides. The  legend  indicated  at  the  conclusion  of 
the  information  respecting  Sintram,  of  the  terrific 
stories  of  the  north,  transformed,  into  southern, 
splendor  and  mirthful  dreams,  would  really  then 
have  been  executed,  and  arose  more  clearlv  from 
the  fantastic  tones  of  a  congenial  harpsichord- 
player,  who  accidentally  met  the  poet.  Partly, 
however,  other  avocations,  partly  interruptions 
from  without,  have  hitherto  driven  the  project 
into  the  background.  But  it  still  lives  within 
me  ;  and  now  again,  from  the  powerful,  and  yet 
child-like  harmonies  of  the  Northman  Ole  Bull, 
seems  to  stir  more  vigorously  and  brightly  than 
before.  Who  knows  what  yet  may  happen  ? 
Meanwhile  here  gushes  from  me  a  song  of  saluta- 


PREFACE.  11 

tion  to  one  who,  honored  by  me  as  master,  is  not 
less  dear  to  me  as  a  man  : — 

Profoundly  dreamt  a  youth  on  Norland  waste ; 
But  no — it  is  not  waste  where  fairy  rings 
Reflect  the  past  as  well  as  future  things, 
When  love  and  woe  in  boding  tones  are  diest. 

They  greeted  him,  they  kissed  him,  and  retreated  I 
They  left  for  him  an  instrument  of  sound, 
Whose  forceful  strings  with  highest  deeds  could  bound, 
And  yet  with  childish  frolics  he  entreated. 

He  wakes — the  gift  he  seizes,  comprehending 
Its  sweet  mysterious  pleasure  how  to  prove, 
And  pours  it  forth  in  pure  harmonious  blending. 

0  mayst  thon,  ever  victor,  joyful  move, 

Thou  Northland  sailor,  on  life's  voyage  wending, 

Conscious  of  God  within  thee  and  above." 

FoUQUfi. 


CHAPTER   I. 

IK  the  Castle  of  Drontheim  there  were 
many  knights  assembled  to  hold  council 
on  the  alFairs  of  the  kingdom ;  and  after  their 
debate,  they  remained  till  past  midnight 
carousing  together  around  the  huge  stone 
table  in  the  vaulted  hall.  A  rising  storm 
drove  the  snow  wildly  against  the  rattling 
windows,  all  the  thick  oak  doors  groaned, 
the  massive  locks  shook,  the  castle  clock 
slowly  and  heavily  struck  the  hour  of  one. 

At  that  instant  a  boy,  pale  as  death,  with 
disordered  hair  and  closed  eyes,  rushed  into 
the  hall,  uttering  a  wild  scream  of  terror. 
He  stopped  behind  the  richly-carved  seat  of 
the  mighty  Biorn,  clung  to  the  knight  with 
both  his  hands,  and  shrieked  in  a  piercing 
voice,  "  My  knightly  father  !  Death  and  an- 
other are  closely  pursuing  me." 


14  SlNTRAM, 

An  awful  stillness  reigned  suddenly  in  the 
whole  assembly,  broken  only  by  the  agon- 
ized shrieks  of  the  boy.  But  one  of  Biorn's 
numerous  retainers,  an  old  esquire,  known 
by  the  name  of  Rolf  the  Good,  advanced 
towards  the  terrified  child,  took  him  in  his 
arms,  and  half  chanted  this  prayer :  "  Oh, 
Father!  help  Thy  servant!  I  believe,  and 
yet  1  cannot  believe."  The  boy,  as  if  in  a 
dream,  at  once  loosened  his  hold  of  the 
knight ;  and  the  good  Rolf  bore  him  from 
the  hall  unresisting,  yet  still  shedding  hot 
tears,  and  murmuring  confused  sounds. 

The  lords  and  knights  looked  at  one  an- 
other in  mute  amazement,  until  the  mighty 
Biorn  said,  in  a  fierce  but  scornfully-deriding 
tone,  "  Do  not  suffer  yourselves  to  be  dis- 
turbed by  the  appearance  of  that  strange 
being,  'lie  is  my  only  son  ;  and  has  been  in 
this  state  since  he  was  five  years  old :  he  is 
now  twelve.  I  am,  therefore,  accustomed  to 
see  him  so,  though,  at  the  first,  I  too  was 
disquieted  by  it.  The  attack  comes  upon 
him  only  once  in  the  year,  and  always  at  this 
same  time.  But  forgive  me  for  having  spent 
so  many  words  on  my  poor  Sintram,  and  let 
us  pass  on  to  some  worthier  subject  for  our 
discourse." 


AND    HIS   COMPANIONS.  15 

Again  there  was  silence  during  some  min- 
utes. Then  a  solitary  voice  began  here  and 
there  to  attempt  renewing  their  former  con- 
versation, "but  without  success.  Two  of  the 
youngest  and  most  joyous  spirits  began  a 
drinking  song ;  but  the  storm  howled  and 
raged  so  wildly  without,  that  .their  mirth  was 
soon  checked.  And  now  they  all  sat  silent 
and  motionless  in  the  lofty  hall ;  the  lamp 
flickered  under  the  vaulted  roof;  while 
the  whole  party  of  knights  looked  like 
pale,  lifeless  images,  dressed  up  in  gigantic 
armor. 

Then  arose  the  chaplain  of  the  castle  of 
Drontheim,  the  only  priest  among  the 
knightly  throng,  and  said,  "  Sir  Biorn,  our 
eyes  and  thoughts  have  all  been  directed  to 
you  and  your  son  in  a  wonderful  manner ; 
but  so  it  has  been  ordered  by  the  providence 
of  God.  You  perceive  that  we  cannot  with- 
draw them,  and  you  would  do  well  to  tell  us 
exactly  what  you  know  concerning  the  fear- 
ful state  in  which  we  have  seen  your  boy. 
Perchance,  such  a  solemn  narration,  as  I 
look  forward  to,  might  be  of  much  use  to 
our  disturbed  minds." 

Biorn  cast  a  look  of  displeasure  on  the 
priest,  and  answered,  "  You  are  more  con- 


16  S  I  N  T  R  A  M , 

cerned  in  the  history,  than  either  you  or  I 
could  desire.  Excuse  me,  if  I  am  unwilling 
to  trouble  these  li^ht-hearted  warriors  with 

O 

such  a  rueful  tale." 

But  the  chaplain  approached  nearer  to  the 
knight,  and  said,  in  a  firm  yet  very  mild 
tone,  "  Sir  knight,  up  to  this  moment  it  rest- 
ed with  you  to  relate,  or  not  to  relate  it :  but 
now  that  you  have  so  strangely  hinted  at 
the  share  which  I  have  had  in  your  son's 
calamity,  I  must  positively  request  that  you 
will  repeat  word  for  word  how  every  thing 
came  to  pass.  My  honor  demands  such  an 
explanation,  and  that  will  weigh  with  you  as 
much  as  with  me." 

In  stern  compliance,  Biorn  bowed  his 
haughty  head,  and  began  the  following  nar- 
ration : — "  This  time  seven  years,  I  was  keep- 
ing the  Christmas-feast  with  my  assembled 
followers.  We  have  many  venerable  old 
customs  which  have  descended  to  us  by  in- 
heritance from  our  forefathers  ;  as,  for*  in- 
stance, that  of  placing  a  gilded  boar's  head 
on  the  table,  and  making  thereon  knightly 
vows  of  daring  and  wondrous  deeds.  Our 
chaplain  there,  who  in  those  days  used  fre- 
quently to  visit  me,  was  never  a  friend  to 
keephfg  up  such  traditions  of  the  ancient 


AND    HIS    COMPANIONS.  17 

heathen  world.  Men  of  his  sort  were  not 
much  in  favor  in  those  olden  times." 

"  My  excellent  predecessors,"  interrupted 
,  the  chaplain,  "were  infinitely  more  con- 
cerned in  obtaining  the  favor  of  God,  than 
that  of  the  world,  and  they  w.ere  not  unsuc- 
cessful in  their  aim.  By  that  means  they 
converted  your  ancestors ;  and  if  I  can  in 
like  manner  be  of  service  to  you,  even  your 
jeering  will  not  vex  me." 

With  looks  yet  darker,  and  an  involuntary 
shudder,  the  knight  resumed  :  "  Yes,  yes  ;  I 
know  all  your  promises  and  threats  concern- 
ing an  invisible  Power ;  and  how  they  are 
meant  to  persuade  us  to  part  more  readily 
with  whatever  of  this  world's  goods  we  may 
possess.  There  was  a  time  when  such  be- 
longed to  me !  Occasionally  a  strange  fancy 
seizes  me,  and  I  feel  as  if  ages  had  passed 
over  since  then,  and  as  if  I  were  alone  the 
survivor,  so  fearfully  is  everything  changed. 
But  now  I  recall  to  my  mind,  that  the  great- 
er part  of  this  noble  company  knew  me  in 
my  days  of  happiness,  and  have  seen  my 
wife,  my  lovely  Verena.*' 

He  pressed  his  hands  on  his  eyes,  and 
many  thought  that  he  wept.  The  tempest 
was  now  lulled ;  the  soft  light  of  the  moon 
2* 


18  SlNTRAM, 

shone  through  the  windows,  and  her  beams 
played  on  his  wild  features.  Suddenly  he 
started  up,  so  that  his  heavy  armor  rattled 
with  a  fearful  sound,  and  he  cried  out  in  a 
thundering  voice,  "  Shall  I  turn  monk,  be- 
cause she  has  become  a  nun?  No,  crafty 
priest ;  your  webs  are  too  thin  to  catch  flies 
of  my  sort." 

"  I  have  nothing  to  do  with  webs,"  said 
the  chaplain.  "  In  all  openness  and  sincer- 
ity have  I  put  heaven  and  hell  before  you 
during  the  space  of  six  years ;  and  you  gave 
full  consent  to  the  step  which  the  holy 
Yerena  took.  But  what  all  that  has  to 
do  with  your  son's  sufferings  I  have  yet 
to  learn  ;  and  I  wait  for  your  farther  nar- 
ration." 

"  You  may  wait  long  enough  for  that," 
said  Biorn,  with  a  sneer.  "  Sooner  shall  — " 

"  Swear  not  1"  said  the  chaplain  in  a  loud 
commanding  tone;  and  his  eyes  flashed  al- 
most fearfully. 

"  Hurra !"  cried  Biorn  in  wild  affright ; 
"  Hurra !  Death  and  his  companions  are  let 
loose !"  and  he  dashed  madly  out  of  the 
chamber,  and  down  the  steps.  The  loud 
wild  notes  of  his  horn  were  heard  summon- 
ing his  retainers,  and  presently  afterwards 


AND    HIS    COMPANIONS.  19 

the  clatter  of  horses'  feet  on  the  frozen  court- 
yard gave  token  of  their  departure. 

The  knights  retired,  silent  and  shudder- 
ing ;  while  the  chaplain  remained  alone  at 
the  huge  stone  table,  engaged  in  earnest 
prayer. 


20  SlNTKAM, 


CHAPTER    II. 

AFTER  some  time  had  elapsed,  the  good 
Rolf  returned  with  slow  and  soft  steps, 
and  started  with  surprise  at  finding  the  hall 
deserted.  The  chamber  where  he  had  been 
occupied  in  quieting  and  soothing  the  un- 
happy child,  was  in  so  distant  a  part  of  the 
castle  that  he  had  heard  nothing  of  the 
knight's  hasty  departure.  The  chaplain  re- 
lated to  him  all  that  had  passed,  and  then 
said :  "  But  my  good  Rolf,  I  much  wish  to 
ask  you  concerning  those  strange  words, 
with  which  you  seemed  to  lull  poor  Sin  tram 
to  rest.  They  sounded  like  sacred  words, 
and  no  doubt  they  are,  but  I  could  not  un- 
derstand them.  '  I  believe,  and  yet  I  cannot 
believe.' " 

"  Reverend  Sir,"  answered  Rolf,  "  I  re- 
member that  from  my  earliest  years  no  his- 
tory in  the  Gospels  has  taken  such  hold  of 
me,  as  that  of  the  child  possessed  with  a 
devil,  which  the  disciples  were  not  able  to 
cast  out ;  but  when  our  Saviour  came  down 
from  the  mountain  where  he  had  been  trans- 


AND    ins    COMPANIONS.  21 

figured,  He  broke  the  "bonds  wherewith  the 
evil  spirit  had  held  the  miserable  child 
bound.  I  always  felt  as  if  I  must  have 
known  and  loved  that  boy,  and  been  his 
playfellow  in  his  happy  days :  and  when  I 
grew  older,  then  the  distress  of  the  father 
on  account  of  his  lunatic  son  laid  heavy  at 
my  heart.  It  must  surely  have  all  been  a 
foreboding  of  the  wretched  state  of  our 
young  lord,  whom  I  love  as  if  he  were  my 
own  child ;  and  now  the  words  of  the  weep- 
ing father  in  the  Gospel  often  come  into  my 
mind,  '  I  believe,  Lord,  help  Thou  mine  un- 
belief;' and  something  of  the  sort  I  may 
very  likely  have  repeated  to-day,  as  a  chant 
or  a  prayer.  Reverend  Father,  when  I  re- 
flect how  one  dreadful  imprecation  of  the 
father  has  kept  its  withering  hold  on  the 
son,  all  seems  dark  before  me ;  but,  God  be 
praised!  faith  and  hope  again  bring  light 
into  my  mind." 

"Good  Rolf,"  said  the  priest,  "I  cannot 
clearly  understand  what  you  say  about  the 
unhappy  Sintram  ;  for  I  do  not  know  when 
and  how  this  affliction  came  upon  him.  If 
no  oath  or  solemn  promise  binds  you  to  se- 
cresy,  will  you  make  known  to  me  all  that 
is  connected  with  it." 


22  SlNTEAM, 

"  Most  willingly,"  replied  Rolf.  "  I  have 
long  desired  to  have  an  opportunity  of  so 
doing;  but  you  have  been  almost  always 
separated  from  us.  I  dare  not  now  leave 
the  sleeping  boy  any  longer  alone,  and  to- 
morrow, at  the  earliest  dawn,  I  must  take 
him  to  his  father.  Will  you  come  with  me 
to  our  poor  Sintram's  room  ?" 

The  chaplain  at  once  took  up  the  small 
lamp  which  Rolf  had  brought  with  him,  and 
they  set  off  together  along  the  vaulted  pas- 
sage. When  they  reached  the  distant  cham- 
ber, they  found  the  suffering  child  fast  asleep. 
As  the  light  of  the  hmp  fell  upon  his  coun- 
tenance, it  showed  his  ashy  paleness.  The 
chaplain  stood  gazing  at  him  for  some  time, 
and  at  length  said : 

"  Certainly  from  his  birth  his  features 
were  always  sharp  and  strongly-marked,  but 
now  they  are  almost  fearfully  so  for  such  a 
child.  And  yet,  in  spite  of  the  strange  ex- 
pression they  give,  I  cannot  help  having  a 
kindly  feeling  towards  him,  whether  I  will 
or  not." 

"  Most  true,  dear  Sir,"  answered  Rolf. 
And  it  was  evident  how  his  whole  heart  re- 
joiced at  any  words  which  betokened  affec- 
tion or  compassion  for  his  beloved  young 


AND    ins    COMPANIONS.  23 

lord.  He  proceeded  to  place  the  lamp 
where  its  light  could  not  disturb  the  sleep- 
ing child,  and  seating  himself  close  by  the 
priest,  he  began  to  speak  in  the  following 
terms  : 

"  During  that  Christmas-feast  of  which 
my  lord  was  talking  to  you,  he  and  his  fol- 
lowers discoursed  much  concerning  the  Ger- 
man merchants,  and  the  best  means  of  keep- 
ing down  the  increasing  pride  and  power  of 
the  larger  trading-towns.  At  length  Biorn 
laid  his  impious  hand  on  the  golden  boar's 
head,  and  swore  to  put  to  death  without 
mercy  every  German  trader  whom  fate,  in 
what  way  soever,  might  bring  alive  into  his 
power.  The  gentle  Verena  turned  pale,  and 
would  have  interposed — but  it  was  too  late, 
the  fearful  word  was  uttered.  And  imme- 
diately afterwards,  as  though  the  great  Ene- 
my of  souls  were  determined  at  once  to  se- 
cure with  fresh  bonds  the  wretched  being 
who  was  thus  devoted  to  him,  a  warder  came 
into  the  hall  to  announce  that  two  citizens 
of  a  trading-town  in  Germany,  an  old  man 
and  his  son.  had  been  shipwrecked  on  this 
coast,  and  were  now  without  the  gates,  ask- 
ing hospitality  of  the  lord  of  the  castle. 
The  knight  could  not  refrain  from  shudder- 


24  S  I  N  T  R  A  M , 

ing ;  but  lie  thought  himself  bound  by  his 
rash  vow,  and  by  that  accursed  remnant  of 
heathenism.  We,  his  retainers,  were  com- 
manded to  assemble  in  the  castle-yard,  armed 
with  sharp  spears,  which  were  to  be  hurled 
at  the  defenceless  strangers  at  the  first  signal 
made  to  us.  For  the  first,  and  I  trust  the 
last  time  in  my  life,  I  refused  to  obey  the 
commands  of  my  lord  ;  my  refusal  was  utter- 
ed in  a  loud  voice,  and  with  the  firmest  de- 
termination. The  Almighty,  who  alone 
knows  whom  He  will  accept,  and  whom  He 
will  reject,  gave  me  at  that  moment  the 
strength  and  resolution  I  needed.  And  Biorn 
might  perceive  whence  the  refusal  of  his 
faithful  old  servant  arose,  and  that  it  was 
•worthy  of  respect.  He  said  to  me,  half  in 
anger  and  half  in  scorn :  '  Go  up  to  my 
wife's  apartments:  her  attendants  are  run- 
ning to  and  fro,  perhaps  she  is  ill.  Go  up, 
Rolf  the  Good,  and  remain  with  the  women, 
who  seem  the  fittest  company  for  you.'  I 
thought  to  myself,  '  Jest  on ;'  but  I  went 
silently  the  way  he  had  pointed  out  to  me. 
On  the  stairs  I  was  met  by  two  strange  and 
awful-looking  beings,  whom  I  had  never 
seen  before  ;  and  I  am  still  at  a  loss  to  think 
how  they  got  into  the  castle.  One  of  them 


AND    HIS    COMPANIONS.  25 

was  a  great,  tall  man,  frightfully  pallid  and 
thin  ;  the  other  was  a  dwarf-like  man,  with 
a  most  hideous  countenance  and  features. 
Indeed,  when  I  collected  my  thoughts  and 
looked  carefully  at  him,  it  appeared  to 
me " 

Low  meanings,  and  convulsive  movements 
of  the  boy,  here  interrupted  the  narrative. 
Rolf  and  the  chaplain  hastened  to  his  bed- 
side, and  perceived  that  his  countenance 
wore  an  expression  of  fearful  agony,  and 
that  he  was  struggling  in  vain  to  open  his 
eyes.  The  priest  made  the  sign  of  the  Cross 
over  him,  and  immediately  peace  seemed  to 
be  restored,  and  his  sleep  again  became  calm 
and  quiet :  they  both  returned  softly  to  their 
seats. 

"  You  see,"  said  Rolf,  "  that  it  will  not 
do  to  attempt  a  more  precise  description  of 
those  two  awful  beings.  Suffice  it  to  say, 
that  they  went  down  into  the  court-yard,  * 
and  that  I  proceeded  to  my  lady's  apart- 
ments. I  found  the  gentle  Yerena  almost 
fainting  with  terror  and  overwhelming  anx- 
iety, and  I  hastened  to  restore  her  with  some 
of  those  remedies  which  the  knowledge  God 
has  given  me  of  the  healing  virtues  of  many 
herbs  and  minerals  enabled  me  to  apply. 
3 


26  Si  NT RAM, 

But  scarcely  had  she  recovered  her  senses, 
when,  with  that  air  of  calm  resolve  which 
you  know  belongs  to  her,  she  desired  me  to 
conduct  her  down  to  the  court-yard,  saying 
that  she  must  either  put  a  stop  to  the  fearful 
doings  of  this  nio-ht,  or  herself  fall  a  sacri- 

O  o         > 

fice.  Our  way  took  us  by  the  little  bed  of 
the  sleeping  Sintram.  Alas  !  I  cannot  keep 
from  tears  when  I  think  how  evenly  his 
gentle  breath  then  came  and  went,  and  how 
sweetly  he  smiled  in  his  peaceful  slum- 
bers." 

The  old  man  put  his  hands  to  his  eyes, 
and  wept  bitterly ;  but  soon  he  resumed  his 
sad  story.  "  As  we  approached  the  lowest 
window  of  the  staircase,  we  could  hear  dis- 
tinctly the  voice  of  the  elder  merchant,  and 
on  looking  out,  the  light  of  the  torches 
showed  me  his  noble  features,  as  well  as  the 
bright  youthful  countenance  of  his  son.  '  1 
take  Almighty  God  to  witness,'  cried  he, 
'that  I  had  no  evil  thought  against  this 
house !  But  surely  I  must  have  fallen  un- 
awares amongst  heathens ;  it  cannot  be  that 
I  am  in  a  Christian  knight's  castle :  and  if 
you  are  indeed  heathens,  then  kill  us  at  once. 
And  you,  my  beloved  son,  be  patient  and  of 
;good  courage ;  in  heaven  we  shall  learn  why 


A  x  D    HIS    COMPANIONS.  2t 

it  was  ordained  that  we  should  meet  our  fate 
here  without  one  chance  of  escape.'  I 
thought  I  could  see  those  two  fearful  ones 
amidst  the  throng  of  armed  retainers.  The 
pale  one  had  a  huge  curved  sword  in  his 
hand,  the  little  one  held  a  spear  notched  in 
a  strange  fashion.  Yerena  tore  open  the 
window,  and  the  silvery  tones  of  her  voice 
were  heard  above  the  storm  of  that  wild 
night,  as  she  cried  out — 'My  dearest  lord 
and  hushand,  for  the  sake  of  your  only  child, 
have  pity  on  those  harmless  men  !  Save 
them  from  a  bloody  death,  and  resist  the 
temptation  of  the  Evil  Spirit.'  The  knight 
answered  in  his  fierce  wrath — but  I  cannot 
repeat  his  words.  He  staked  his  child  on 
the  desperate  cast ;  he  called  death  and  the 
devil  to  see  that  he  kept  his  word: — but, 
hush !  the  boy  is  again  moaning.  Let  me 
bring  the  dark  tale  quickly  to  a  close.  Biorn 
commanded  his  followers  to  strike,  casting 
on  them  those  fierce  looks  which  have  gained 
him  the  title  of  Biorn  of  the  Fiery  Eyes ; 
while  at  the  same  time  the  two  frightful 
strangers  seemed  to  bestir  themselves  in  the 
crowd  with  more  activity  than  before.  Then 
Yerena  called  out,  in  the  extremity  of  her 
anguish,  *  Help,  O  God,  my  Saviour !' 


28  Si  NTH AM, 

Those  two  dreadful  figure?  disappeared, 
and  the  knight  and  his  retainers,  as  if 
seized  with  blindness,  rnshed  wildly  ono 
against  the  other,  but  without  doing  injury 
to  themselves,  or  yet  succeeding  in  striking 
the  merchants,  who  had  so  nearly  fallen  vic- 
tims to  Biorii's  savage  cruelty.  They  bowed 
reverently  towards  Yerena,  and  with  calm 
thanksgivings  departed  through  the  castle 
gates,  which  at  that  moment  had  been  burst 
open  by  a  violent  gust  of  wind,  and  now 
gave  a  free  passage  to  any  who  would  go 
forth.  The  lady  and  I  were  yet  standing 
bewildered  on  the  stairs,  when  I  fancied  I 
saw  the  two  fearful  forms  glide  close  by  me, 
but  there  was  such  a  cloudy  unreal  look 
about  them,  that  I  doubted,  till  Yerena  call- 
ed to  me :  '  Rolf,  did  you  see  a  tall  pale  man, 
and  a  little  hideous  one  with  him,  pass  just 
now  up  the  staircase  V  I  flew  after  them  ; 
but,  alas !  when  I  reached  the  poor  boy's 
room,  I  found  him  already  in  the  same  state 
in  whicli  you  saw  him  a  few  hours  ago. . 
Ever  since,  the  attack  has  come  on  him  reg- 
ularly at  this  time,  and  he  is  in  all  respects 
fearfully  changed.  The  lady  of  the  castle 
did  not  fail  to  discern  the  avenging  hand  of 
Heaven  in  this  calamity ;  and  as  the  knight, 


AND      HIS      CoMPAKIONS.  29' 

her  husband,  instead  of  showing  signs  of  re- 
pentance, added  each  day  to  the  number  of 
his  violent  deeds,  she  resolved  to  take  refuge 
in  a  cloister ;  and  there,  by  unremitting 
prayer,  to  obtain  mercy  in  time  and  eternity 
for  herself  and  her  unhappy  child." 

Rolf  was  silent ;  and  the  chaplain  said, 
after  some  moments'  reflection  :  "  I  now  un- 
derstand why,  six  years  ago,  Biorn  confessed 
his  guilt  to  me  in  general  terms,  and  con- 
sented that  his  wife  should  take  the  veil. 
Some  faint  compunction  must  then  liave 
stirred  within  him,  and  perhaps  the  traces  of 
it  may  yet  exist.  Anyhow  it  was  impossible 
that  so  tender  a  flower  as  Yerena  could  re- 
main longer  in  such  rough  keeping.  But 
who  is  there  now  to  watch  over  and  protect 
our  poor  Sintram  ?" 

"  The  prayers  of  his  mother  are  his  safe- 
guard," answered  Rolf.  "  Reverend  Sir,, 
when  the  first  dawn  of  day  appears,  as  it 
does  now,  and  when  the  morning  breeze 
plays  lightly  around,  they  always  bring  to 
my  mind  the  soft-beaming  eyes  of  my  lady, 
and  I  a^ain  seem  to  hear  the  sweet  tones  of 

O 

her  voice.  The  holy  Yerena  is,  next  to  God, 
our  chief  aid." 

"  And  let  us  add  our  devout  supplications 


30  S  I  N  T  R  A  M  , 

to  the  Lord,"  said  the  chaplain :  and  he  and 
Rolf  knelt  in  silent  and  earnest  prayer  by 
the  bed  of  the  pale  sufferer,  who  soon  began 
to  smile  as  he  lay  still  dreaming. 


AND    HIS    COMPANIONS.  31 


CHAPTER  III. 

THE  rays  of  the  sun  shining  brightly  into 
the  room,  awoke  Sintram,  and  raising 
himself  up,  he  looked  angrily  at  the  chap- 
lain, and  said :  "  So  there  is  a  priest  in  the 
castle !  And  yet  that  accursed  dream  con- 
tinues to  torment  me  even  in  his  very  pres- 
ence !  A  pretty  sort  of  priest  he  must  be !" 

"  My  child,"  answered  the  chaplain  in  the 
mildest  tone,  "  I  have  prayed  for  you  most 
fervently,  and  I  shall  never  cease  doing  so — 
but  God  alone  is  Almighty." 

"  You  speak  very  impertinently  to  the  son 
of  the  great  knight,  Eiorn,"  cried  Sintram. 
"'My  child!'  indeed!  If  those  horrible 
dreams  had  not  been  again  haunting  me, 
you  would  make  me  laugh  heartily." 

"  My  young  lord,"  said  the  chaplain,  "  I 
am  by  no  means  surprised  that  you  should 
not  recognize  me,  for  in  truth  neither  should 
I  know  you  again."  And  his  eyes  filled  with 
tears  as  he  spoke. 

The  good  Kolf  looked  sorrowfully  in  the 


32  S  I  N  T  R  A  M  , 

boy's  face,  saying,  "Ah !  my  dear  young  mas- 
ter, you  are  so  much  better  than  you  would 
make  people  believe.  Why  did  you  speak 
in  that  way  ?  Your  memory  is  so  good,  that 
you  must  surely  recollect  your  kind  old  friend 
the  chaplain,  who  used  formerly  to  be  con- 
stantly at  the  castle,  and  to  bring  you  so 
many  presents  —  bright-colored  pictures  of 
saints,  and  beautiful  songs  ?" 

"  I  know  all  that  very  well,"  replied  Sin- 
tram,  thoughtfully.  "My  blessed  mother 
was  alive  in  those  days." 

"  Our  gracious  lady  is  still  living,  God  be 
praised !"  said  the  good  Rolf. 

"  But  she  does  not  live  for  us,  poor  sick 
creatures  that  we  are  !"  cried  Sintram.  "And 
why  will  you  not  call  her  blessed  ?  Surely 
she  knows  nothing  about  my  dreams  ?" 

"  Yes,  she  does  know  of  them,"  said  the 
chaplain,  "and  she  prays  to  God  on  your 
behalf.  But  take  heed,  and  restrain  that 
wild,  haughty  temper  of  yours.  It  might, 
indeed,  come  to  pass  that  she  no  longer  knew 
any  thing  about  your  dreams,  and  that  would 
be  if  you  were  to  die ;  and  then  the  holy 
angels  would  also  cease  to  know  any  thing 
of  you." 

Sintram  fell  back  on  his  bed  as  if  thunder- 


AND    HIS    COMPANIONS.  33 

struck;  and  Rolf  said  with  a  gentle  sigh, 
"  You  should  not  speak  so  severely  to  my 
poor  sick  child,  reverend  sir." 

The  boy  again  sat  up,  and  with  streaming 
eyes  he  turned  towards  the  chaplain,  saying 
in  a  kind  and  gentle  tone :  "  Let  him  do  as 
he  pleases,  you  good  tender-hearted  Rolf; 
he  knows  very  well  what  he  is  about.  Would 
you  reprove  him  if  I  were  slipping  down  a 
rocky  precipice,  and  he  were  to  catch  me 
roughly  by  the  hair  of  my  head  in  order  to 
save  me  ?" 

The  priest  looked  at  him  with  emotion, 
and  was  about  to  give  utterance  to  some  kind 
expression,  when  Sintram  suddenly  sprang 
oft*  the  bed  and  asked  after  his  father.  As 
soon  as  he  heard  of  the  knight's  departure, 
he  would  not  remain  another  hour  in  the 
castle ;  and  when  both  the  chaplain  and  the 
old  esquire  expressed  their  fears  lest  a  rapid 
journey  should  be  hurtful  to  him  before  he 
had  shaken  off  the  effects  of  his  late  attack, 
he  said  to  them :  "  Believe  me,  reverend  sir, 
and  good  old  Rolf,  if  I  were  not  subject  to 
these  hideous  dreams,  there  would  not  be 
a  bolder  youth  in  the  whole  world;  and 
even  as  it  is,  I  am  not  so  far  behind  the  very 
best.  Besides,  till  another  year  has  passed, 


34  SlNTRAM. 

there  is  no  fear  of  my  dreams  again  troubling 
me." 

Rolf  obeyed  a  somewhat  imperious  sign 
from  his  young  master,  and  went  to  prepare 
the  horses.  No  sooner  were  they  brought 
out,  tli  an  the  boy  threw  himself  into  his 
saddle,  and  taking  a  courteous  leave  of  the 

7  O 

chaplain,  he  dashed  along  the  frozen  valley 
that  lay  between  the  snow-clad  mountains. 
He  had  not  ridden  far,  in  company  with  his 
old  attendant,  when  he  heard  a  strange  in- 
distinct sound  proceeding  from  a  neighbor- 
ing cleft  in  the  rock  ;  it  was  partly  like  the 
clapper  of  a  small  mill,  but  mingled  with 
that  were  hollow  groans,  and  other  tones  of 
distress.  They  directed  their  horses  towards 
the  place  whence  the  sounds  came,  and  a 
wonderful  sight  presented  itself  before  them. 
A  tall  man,  deadly  pale,  in  a  pilgrim's 
garb,  was  striving  with  violent  though  un- 
successful efforts,  to  work  his  way  out  of  the 
snow,  and  to  get  up  the  mountain ;  and  at 
each  exertion  which  he  made,  a  quantity  of 
bones,  which  were  hanging  loosely  all  about 
his  garments,  rattled  one  against  the  other, 
and  caused  the  mysterious  sound  already 
mentioned.  Rolf,  much  terrified,  crossed 
himself,  while  the  bold  Sintrarn  called  out 


AND    HIS    COMPANIONS.  35 

to  the  stranger,  "What  art  thou  doing 
there?  Give  an  account  of  thy  solitary 
labors/' 

"  I  live  in  death,"  replied  that  other  one 
with  a  fearful  grin. 

"  "Whose  are  those  bones  which  hang  about 
thee?" 

"  They  are  relics,  young  sir." 

"  Art  thou  a  pilgrim  ?" 

"  I  have  no  rest,  no  quiet ;  I  go  up  and 
down  the  land." 

"  Thou  must  not  perish  here  in  the  snow 
before  my  eyes." 

"  That  I  wiU  not." 

"Thou  must  come  up  and  sit  on  my 
horse." 

"  That  I  will  do." 

And  all  at  once  he  started  up  out  of  the 
snow  with  surprising  strength  and  agility, 
and  sprang  on  the  horse  behind  Sintram, 
clasping  him  tight  in  his  long  arms.  The 
animal,  startled  by  the  rattling  of  the  bones, 
and  as  if  seized  with  madness,  rushed  away 
through  the  most  trackless  passes.  The  boy 
soon  found  himself  alone  with  his  strange 
companion;  for  Eolf,  breathless  with  fear, 
spurred  on  his  horse  in  vain,  and  remained 
far  behind  them.  After  slipping  down  the 


36  S  I  N  T  R  A  M  , 

steep  mountain  side,  which  was  entirely  cov- 
ered with  snow,  into  a  narrow  defile,  the  horso 
seemed  somewhat  to  slacken  his  pace,  but  yet 
continued  to  snort  and  foam  as  before,  and 
could  not  be  controlled.  Still,  his  headlong 
course  being  now  changed  into  a  rough  ir- 
regular trot,  Sin  tram  was  able  to  breathe 
more  freely,  and  to  begin  the  following  dis- 
course with  his  unknown  companion. 

"  Draw  thy  garment  closer  round  thee,  thou 
pale  man :  the  bones  will  then  rattle  less, 
and  I  shall  be  able  to  curb  my  horse." 

"  It  would  be  of  no  avail,  boy ;  it  would 
be  of  no  avail.  The  bones  must  rattle." 

"  Do  not  clasp  me  so  tight  with  thy  long 
arms,  they  are  so  cold." 

"  It  cajanot  be  helped,  boy ;  it  cannot  be 
helped.  Be  content.  For  my  long  cold 
arms  are  not  pressing  yet  on  thy  heart." 

"Do  not  breathe  on  me  so  with  thy  icy 
breath.  All  my  strength  is  departing." 

"  I  must  breathe,  boy ;  I  must  breathe. 
But  do  not  complain.  I  am  not  blowing 
thee  away." 

The  strange  dialogue  here  came  to  an  end ; 
for  to  Sintram's  surprise,  he  found  himself 
on  an  open  plain,  over  which  the  sun  was 
shining  brightly,  and  at  no  great  distance 


AXD    HIS    COMPANIONS.  37 

before  him  he  descried  his  father's  castle. 
"While  he  was  doubting  as  to  whether  he 
might  invite  the  unearthly  pilgrim  to  rest 
there,  this  one  put  an  end  to  his  hesitation 
by  throwing  himself  suddenly  off  the  horse, 
whose  wild  course  was  checked  by  the  shock. 
Raising  his  fore-finger,  he  said  to  the  boy : 

"  I  know  old  JBiorn  of  the  Fiery  Eyes 
we'll :  perhaps  but  too  well.  Commend  me 
to  him.  It  will  not  need  to  tell  him  my 
name  ;  he  will  recognize  me  by  the  descrip- 
tion you  can  give  of  me."  So  saying,  the 
ghastly  stranger  turned  aside  into  a  thick 
firwood,  and  disappeared  amongst  the  tangled 
branches. 

Slowly  and  thoughtfully  Sintram  rode  on 
towards  his  father's  castle,  his  horse  being 
now  again  quiet  and  almost  exhausted.  He 
scarcely  knew  how  much  he  ought  to  relate 
of  his  wonderful  adventure,  and  he  also  felt 
oppressed  with  anxiety  for  the  good  Rolf, 
who  had  remained  so  far  behind.  He  found 
himself  at  the  castle-gate  sooner  than  he  had 
expected ;  the  drawbridge  was  lowered,  the 
doors  were  thrown  open  ;  an  attendant  led 
the  youth  into  the  great  hall,  where  Biorn 
was  sitting  all  alone  at  a  huge  table,  with 
many  flagons  and  glasses  before  him,  and 
4 


38  Si  XT RAM, 

suits  of  armor  raDged  on  either  side  of  him. 
It  was  his  daily  custom,  by  way  of  company, 
to  have  the  armor  of  his  ancestors,  with 
closed  vizors,  placed  all  round  the  table  at 
which  he  sat.  The  father  and  son  began 
conversing  as  follows : 

"Where  is  Rolf?" 

"  I  do  not  know,  father :  I  lost  sight  of 
him  in  the  mountains." 

"  I  will  have  Rolf  shot,  if  he  cannot  take 
better  care  than  that  of  my  only  child." 

"Then,  father,  you  will  have  your  only 
child  shot  at  the  same  time,  for  without  Rolf 
I  cannot  live ;  and  if  even  one  single  dart  is 
aimed  at  him,  I  will  be  there  to  receive  it, 
and  to  shield  his  true  and  faithful  heart." 

"  Is  it  so  ?— Then  Rolf  shall  not  be  shot, 
but  he  shall  be  driven  from  the  castle." 

"  In  that  case,  father,  you  will  see  me  go 
away  also ;  and  I  will  give  myself  up  to 
serve  him  in  forests,  in  mountains,  in  caves." 

"  Is  it  so  ? — Well,  then,  Rolf  must  remain 
here." 

"  That  is  just  what  I  think,  father." 

"  Were  you  riding  quite  alone  ?" 

"  No,  father;  but  with  a  strange  pilgrim  : 
he  said  that  he  knew  you  very  well — perhaps, 
too  well."  And  thereupon  Sintram  began 


AND    HI  .5    COMPANIONS.  39 

to  relate  and  to  describe  all  that  had  passed 
with  the  pale  man. 

"  I  know  him  also  very  well,"  said  Biorn. 
"  He  is  half-crazed  and  half-wise,  as  we  some- 
times are  astonished  at  seeing  that  people 
can  be.  But  do  you,  my  boy,  go  to  rest 
after  your  wild  journey.  I  give  you  my 
word  that  Rolf  shall  be  kindly  received  if 
he  arrives  here ;  and  that  if  he  does  not 
come  soon,  he  shall  be  sought  for  in  the 
mountains." 

"  I  trust  to  your  word,  father,"  said  Sin- 
tram,  with  a  mixture  of  pride  and  humility 
in  his  tone;  and  he  proceeded  to  obey  the 
command  of  the  grim  lord  of  the  castle." 


40  Si  NT RAM, 


CHAPTER    IV. 

IT  was  getting  towards  evening  when  Sin- 
tram  awoke.  lie  saw  the  good  Rolf  sit- 
ting at  his  bedside,  and  looked  up  in  the  old 
man's  kind  face  with  a  smile  of  unusual  in- 
nocent brightness.  But  soon  again  his  dark 
brows  were  knit,  and  he  asked :  "  How  did 
my  father  receive  you  Rolf?  Did  he  say  a 
harsh  word  to  you  ?" 

"  No,  my  dear  young  lord,  he  did  not — 
indeed,  he  did  not  speak  to  me  at  all.  At 
first  he  looked  very  wrathful ;  but  he  con- 
trolled himself,  and  ordered  a  servant  to 
bring  me  food  and  wine  to  refresh  me,  and 
afterwards  take  me  to  your  room." 

"He  might  have  kept  his  word  better. 
But  he  is  my  father,  and  I  must  not  judge 
him  too  severely.  I  will  now  go  down  to 
the  evening  meal."  So  saying,  he  sprang 
up  and  threw  on  his  furred  mantle.  But 
Rolf  stopped  Jiim,  and  said  in  a  tone  of  en- 
treaty :  "  My  dear  young  master,  you  would 
do  better  to  take  your  meal  to-day  alone 
here  in  your  own  apartment.  For  there  is  a 


AND    HIS    COMPANIONS.  41 

guest  with  your  father,  in  whose  company  I 
should  be  very  sorry  to  see  you.  If  you  will 
remain  here  I  will  entertain  you  with  pleas- 
ant tales  and  songs." 

"  There  is  nothing  in  the  world  which  I 
should  like  better,  dear  Rolf,"  answered  Sin- 
tram,  "  but  it  does  not  befit  me  to  shun  the 
company  of  any  man.  Tell  me,  whom  should 
I  find  with  my  father  ?" 

"  Alas  !''  said  the  old  man,  "you  have  al- 
ready found  him  in  the  mountain.  Former- 
ly, when  I  used  to  ride  about  the  country 
with  Biorn,  we  often  met  with  him,  but  I 
was  forbidden  to  tell  you  any  thing  about 
him ;  and  this  is  the  first  time  that  he  has 
ever  come  to  the  castle." 

"  Oh ;  the  crazy  pilgrim  !"  replied  Sin- 
tram  ;  and  he  stood  some  moments  buried  in 
thought,  and  apparently  weighing  the  whole 
matter  in  his  mind.  At  last  rousing  him- 
self he  said :  "  Dear  old  friend,  I  would 
most  willingly  stay  here  with  you  this  even- 
ing and  listen  to  your  stories  and  songs,  and 
all  the  pilgrims  in  the  world  should  not  make 
me  leave  this  quiet  room.  But  one  thing 
must  be  considered.  I  feel  a  kind  of  dread 
of  that  pale,  tall  man,  and  by  such  fears  no 
true  knight's  son  can  ever  suffer  himself  to 
4* 


42  SlNTRAM, 

be  overcome.  So  do  not  be  angry,  dear 
Rolf,  if  I  determine  to  go  and  look  that 
strange  Palmer  in  the  face."  And  he  shut  the 
door  of  the  chamber  behind  him,  and  with 
firm  and  echoing  steps  proceeded  to  the  hall. 

The  pilgrim  and  the  knight  were  sitting 
opposite  to  each  other  at  the  great  table,  on 
which  many  lights  were  burning ;  and  it  was 
fearful,  amongst  all  the  lifeless  armor,  to  see 
those  two  tall  grim  men  move  and  eat  and 
drink.  As  the  pilgrim  looked  up  on  the 
boy's  entrance,  Biorn  said,  "  You  know  him 
already ;  he  is  my  only  child  and  your  fellow- 
traveller  this  morning."  The  Palmer  fixed 
an  earnest  look  on  Sintram,  and  answered, 
shaking  his  head,  "  I  do  not  know  what  you 
mean."  Then  the  boy  burst  forth  impa- 
tiently, "  It  must  be  confessed  that  you  deal 
very  unfairly  by  us !  You  say  that  you  know 
my  father  but  too  well,  and  now  it  appears 
that  you  do  not  know  me  at  all.  Who  al- 
lowed you  to  ride  on  his  horse,  and  in  return 
had  his  good  steed  driven  almost  wild  ?  An- 
swer, if  you  can !" 

Biorn  put  on  a  somewhat  displeased  look, 
but  was  in  truth  delighted  at  any  such  out- 
break of  his  son's  unruly  temper ;  while  the 
pilgrim  shuddered,  as  if  terrified  and  over- 


AND   HIS   COMPANIONS.  43 

come  by  some  secret  and  irresistible  power. 
At  length,  with  a  trembling  voice,  lie  said 
these  words :  "  Yes,  yes,  my  dear  young  lord, 
you  are  surely  quite  right ;  you  are  perfectly 
right  in  everything  which  you  may  please  to 
assert." 

Then  the  lord  of  the  castle  laughed  aloud, 
and  said,  "  Why,  you  strange  pilgrim,  what 
is  become  of  all  your  wonderfully  fine  speeches 
and  warnings  now  ?  Has  the  boy  all  at  once 
struck  you  dumb  and  powerless?  Beware, 
you  prophet  messenger,  beware !"  But  the 
Palmer  cast  a  fearful  look  on  Biorn,  which 
seemed  to  quench  the  light  of  his  fiery  eyes, 
and  said  in  thundering  accents,  "Between 
me  and  thee,  old  man,  the  case  stands  quite 
otherwise.  We  have  nothing  to  reproach 
each  other  with.  And  now  suffer  me  to  sing 
a  song  to  you  on  the  lute."  He  stretched 
out  his  hand  and  took  down  from  the  wall 
an  old  worn-out  lute  which  was  hanging 
there,  and  having,  with  surprising  skill  and 
rapidity,  put  it  in  a  state  fit  to  be  used,  he 
struck  some  chords,  and  the  low  melancholy 
tones  of  the  instrument  seemed  well  adapted 
to  the  words  he  began  to  sing — 

"  The  flow'ret  was  mine  own,  mine  own, 
But  I  have  lost  its  fragrance  rare, 


44  S  i  N  T  R  A  ir , 

And  knightly  name  and  freedom  fair, 
Thro'  sin,  thro'  sin  alone. 

The  flow'ret  was  thine  own,  thine  own, 
Why  cast  away  what  thou  didst  win  ? 
Thou  knight  no  more,  but  slave  of  sin, 
Thou'rt  fearfully  alone !" 

"  Have  a  care !"  shouted  he  at  the  close  in 
a  pealing  voice,  as  he  pulled  the  strings  with 
such  tremendous  force  that  they  all  broke, 
and  a  cloud  of  dust  rose  from  the  instrument, 
which  spread  round  him  like  a  mist.  Sin- 
tram  had  been  watching  him  narrowly  whilst 
•he  was  singing,  and  more  and  more  did  he 
feel  convinced  that  it  was  impossible  that  this 
man  and  his  fellow-traveller  of  the  morning 
could  be  one  and  the  same  person.  Every 
doubt  was  removed  when  the  stranger  again 
looked  round  at  him  with  the  same  timid, 
anxious  air,  and  with  many  excuses  and  low 
reverences  replaced  the  lute  in  its  former 
position,  and  then  ran  out  of  the  hall  as  if 
bewildered  with  terror ;  his  manner  forming 
a  strange  contrast  with  the  proud  and  stately 
.deportment  which  he  had  assumed  towards 
Biorn. 

The  eyes  of  the  boy  were  now  directed  to 
his  father,  and  he  perceived  that  he  had  sunk 
back  senseless  in  his  seat,  as  though  he  had 


AND  HIS   COMPANIONS.  45 

been  struck  by  a  sudden  blow.  Sintram's 
cries  summoned  Rolf  and  other  attendants, 
but  it  was  only  by  their  united  exertions  that 
they  succeeded  in  restoring  their  lord  to  ani- 
mation; his  looks  were  still  wild  and  dis- 
ordered, but  he  suffered  himself  to  be  taken 
to  rest  without  making  any  opposition. 


46  Si NT RAM, 


CHAPTER   V. 

ALOISTG  illness  followed  this  sudden  at- 
tack, and  during  the  course  of  it.  the 
stout  old  knight,  in  the  midst  of  his  delirious 
ravings,  did  not  cease  to  affirm  confidently 
that  he  must  and  should  recover  at  last.  He 
would  laugh  proudly  when  his  fever  fits  came 
on,  and  rebuke  them  for  daring  to  attack  him 
BO  needlessly.  Then  he  would  murmur  to 
himself,  "  That  was  not  the  right  one  yet ; 
there  must  still  be  another  one  out  in  the 
cold  mountains." 

At  such  expressions  Sintram  involuntarily 
shuddered ;  they  seemed  to  confirm  his  idea 
tha^  the  being  who  had  ridden  with  him,  and 
he  who  sat  at  table  in  the-  castle,  were  two 
quite  distinct  persons ;  and  he  knew  not  why, 
but  this  thought  was  an  inexpressibly  awful 
one  to  him. 

Biorn  recovered,  and  appeared  to  have 
entirely  forgotten  his  adventure  with  the 
Palmer.  He  hunted  in  the  mountains,  he 
carried  on  his  usual  wild  warfare  with  his 
neighbors,  and  Sintram  became  his  almost 


AND   HIS   COMPANIONS.  47 

constant  companion ;  whereby  each  year  the 
youth  acquired  a  fearful  increase  of  strength 
of  body,  with  an  equal  fierceness  of  spirit. 
Every  one  trembled  at  the  sight  of  his  sharp, 
pallid  features,  his  dark  rolling  eyes,  his  tall, 
muscular,  and  somewhat  lean  form — and  yet 
no  one  hated  him,  not  even  those  whom  he 
distressed  or  injured  to  gratify  his  wildest 
humors.  This  might  arise  in  part  out  of 
regard  to  old  Rolf,  who  seldom  left  him  for 
long,  and  who  always  held  a  softening  influ- 
ence over  him ;  but  also  many  of  those  who 
had  known  the  Lady  Verena  before  she  re- 
tired from  the  world,  affirmed  that  a  faint 
reflection  of  the  heavenly  expression  which 
had  lighted  up  her  features,  could  often  be 
traced  in  those  of  her  son,  however  unlike 
they  might  be  in  form — and  that  by  this 
their  hearts  were  won. 

Once,  just  at  the  beginning  of  spring, 
Biorn  and  his  son  were  hunting  in  the  neigh- 
borhood of  the  sea  coast,  over  a  tract  of 
country  which  did  not  belong  to  them ; 
drawn  thither  less  by  the  love  of  sport  than 
by  the  wish  of  bidding  defiance  to  a  chieftain 
whom  they  detested,  and  thus  exciting  a 
feud.  At  that  season  of  the  year,  when  his 
winter  dreams  had  just  passed  ofi',  Sintranr 


48  S  I  NT  K  A  II, 

was  always  unusually  fierce,  and  disposed 
for  warlike  adventures,  and  this  day  lie. was 
enraged  at  the  chieftain  for  not  coming  forth 
from  his  castle  to  attack  the  intruders  with 
armed  force,  and  he  cursed  the  cowardly 
patience  and  love  of  peace  which  kept  his 
enemy  thus  quiet.  Just  then,  one  of  his  wild 
companions  rushed  towards  him,  shouting 
joyfully,  "  Be  content,  my  dear  young  lord  ! 
I  will  wager  that  all  is  coming  about  as  we 
and  you  wish;  for,  as  I  was  pursuing  a 
wounded  deer  down  to  the  sea-shore,  I  per- 
ceived a  sail  in  sight,  and  a  vessel  filled  with 
armed  men  making  for  the  shore.  Doubt- 
less your  enemy  is  intending  to  take  you  by 
surprise  by  coming  in  this  way." 

Sin  tram,  full  of  joy  at  the  news,  called  his 
followers  together  as  secretly  as  possible, 
being  resolved  this  time  to  take  on  himself 
alone  the  whole  direction  of  the  engagement 
which  was  likely  to  follow;  and  then  to 
rejoin  his  father,  and  astonish  him  with  the 
sight  of  captured  foes,  and  other  tokens  of 
victory. 

The  hunters,  thoroughly  acquainted  with 
every  cliff  and  rock,  concealed  themselves 
near  the  landing-place,  and  soon  the  strange 
vessel  was  seen  approaching  nearer  and 


AND  HIS   COMPANIONS.  49 

nearer,  till  at  length  it  came  to  anchor,  and 
its  crew  began  to  disembark  in  unsuspicious 
security.  At  the  head  of  them  appeared  a 
knight  of  high  degree,  in  polished  steel 
armor  richly  inlaid  with  gold.  His  head 
•\vas  bare,  for  he  carried  his  golden  helmet  in 
his  left  hand,  and  as  he  looked  around  him 
with  the  air  of  one  accustomed  to  command, 
none  could  fail  to  admire  his  noble  counten- 
ance shaded  by  dark  brown  locks,  and  ani- 
mated by  the  bright  smile  which  played 
around  his  well-shaped  mouth. 

A  feeling  came  across  Sintram  that  he 
must  have  seen  this  knight  somewhere  in 
by-gone  times,  and  he  stood  motionless  for 
a  few  moments.  But  suddenly  he  raised  his 
hand  to  make  the  preconcerted  signal  of 
attack.  In  vain  did  the  good  Holf,  who  had 
just  succeeded  in  getting  up  to  him,  whisper 
in  his  ear  that  these  could  not  be  the  foes 
whom  he  had  taken  them  for,  but  that  they 
were  entire  strangers,  and  evidently  of  no 
mean  race.  "  Let  them  be  who  they  may," 
replied  the  wild  youth,  "  they  have  been  the 
cause  of  my  coming  here,  and  they  shall  pay 
dearly  for  having  so  deceived  me.  Say  not 
another  word,  if  you  value  your  life."  And 
immediately  he  gave  the  signal;  a  thick 


50  S  I  N  T  R  A  M  , 

shower  of  javelins  followed,  and  the  Nor- 
wegian warriors  rushed  forth  with  flashing 
swords.  They  soon  found  that  they  had  to 
do  with  adversaries  as  brave,  or  braver,  than 
they  could  have  desired.  More  fell  on  the 
side  of  those  who  made  than  of  those  who 
received  the  assault,  and  the  strangers  ap- 
peared to  have  a  surprising  knowledge  of 
the  mode  of  fighting  which  belonged  to  those 
northern  regions.  The  knight  clad  in  steel 
armor  had  not  time  to  put  on  his  helmet, 
but  it  seemed  as  if  he  in  no-wise  needed  such 
protection,  for  his  good  sword  aiforded  him 
sufficient  defence  even  against  the  spears  and 
darts  which  were  incessantly  hurled  at  him, 
as  with  rapid  skill  he  received  them  on  the 
shining  blade,  and  dashed  them  far  away 
shivered  into  fragments. 

Sintram  could  not  at  the  first  onset  pene- 
trate to  where  this  valiant  chief  was  stand- 
ing, as  all  his  followers,  eager  after  such  a 
noble  prey,  thronged  closely  round  him ;  but 
now  the  way  was  cleared  enough  for  him  to 
spring  towards  the  brave  stranger,  shouting 
a  war-cry,  and  brandishing  his  sword  above 
Ms  head.  "  Gabrielle !"  cried  the  knight,  as 
he  dexterously  parried  the  heavy  blow  which 
was  descending,  and  with  one  powerful 


AND   HIS   COMPANIONS.  51 

sword-thrust  lie  laid  his  youthful  antagonist 
prostrate  on  the  ground,  then  placing  his 
knee  on  Sintram's  breast,  he  drew  forth  a 
dagger  and  held  it  at  his  throat.  The  men- 
{it-arms  ranged  themselves  around  —  Sintram 
felt  that  no  hope  remained  for  him.  He 
determined  to  die  as  it  became  a  bold  war- 
rior, and,  without  giving  one  sign  of  emotion, 
he  looked  on  the  fatal  weapon  with  a  steady 


As  he  lay  with  his  eyes  cast  upwards,  he 
fancied  that  he  saw  an  apparition  of  a  lovely 
female  form  in  a  bright  attire  of  blue  and 
gold.  "  Our  ancestors  told  truly  of  the 
Yalkyrias,"  murmured  he.  "Strike,  then, 
thou  unknown  conqueror." 

But  with  this  the  knight  did  not  comply, 
neither  was  it  a  Yalkyria  who  had  so  sud- 
denly appeared,  but  the  beautiful  wife  of  the 
stranger,  who  having  advanced  to  the  edge 
of  the  vessel,  had  thus  met  the  upraised  look 
cf  Siiitram.  "  Folko,"  cried  she  in  the  softest 
tone,  "thou  knight  without  reproach!  I 
know  that  thou  wilt  spare  a  vanquished  foe." 
The  knight  sprang  up,  and  with  courtly 
grace  assisted  the  youth  to  rise,  saying, 
"  You  owe  your  life  and  liberty  to  the  noble 
lady  of  Montfau^ou.  But  if  you  are  so  far 


52  Si  NT  BAM, 

lost  to  all  sense  of  honor  as  to  wish  to  resume 
the  combat,  here  am  I — let  it  be  yours  to 
begin." 

Sintram  sank  on  his  knees  overwhelmed 
with  shame  and  remorse ;  for  he  had  often 
heard  speak  of  the  high  renown  of  the  French 
knight,  Folko  of  Hontfaugon,  who  was  dis- 
tantly allied  to  his  father's  house,  and  of 
the  grace  and  beauty  of  his  gentle  lady, 
Gabrielle. 


AND    HIS    COMPANIONS.  53 


CHAPTER  VI. 

THE  lord  of  Montfan£on  looked  with  as- 
tonishment at  his  strange  adversary  ; 
and  as  he  gazed  on  him,  recollections  arose 
in  his  mind  of  that  northern  race  from  \vhom 
he  was  descended,  and  with  whom  he  had 
always  maintained  friendly  relations.  His 
eye  fell  on  a  golden  bear's  claw,  with  which 
Sintram's  cloak  was  fastened,  and  the  sight 
of  that  made  all  clear  to  him. 

"  Have  you  not,"  said  he,  "  a  valiant  and 
far-famed  kinsman  called  the  Sea-king  Arin- 
biorn,  whose  helmet  is  adorned  with  golden 
vulture  wings?  And  is  not  your  father  the 
knight  Biorn?  For  surely  the  bear's  claw 
on  your  mantle  must  be  the  cognizance  of 
your  house."  Sintram  gave  a  sign  of  assent, 
but  his  deep  sense  of  shame  and  humiliation 
did  not  allow  him  to  speak. 

The  knight  of  Montfaugon  raised  him  from 
the  ground,  and  said  grav.ely,  yet  gently  : 
"  We  are  then  of  kin  the  one  to  the  other ; 
but  I  could  never  have  believed  that  any 
one  of  your  noble  house  would  attack  a 
6* 


54  SiNTRAM, 

peaceful  man  without  provocation,  nay,  even 
lie  in  wait  to  surprise  him." 

"Slav  me  at  once,"  answered  Sintram,  ';  if 
indeed  I  am  worthy  to  die  by  the  hand  of  so 
renowned  a  knight — I  can  no  longer  endure 
the  light  of  day."  "  Because  you  have  been 
overcome?"  asked  Montfaucon.  Sintram 
shook  his  head.  "  Or  is  it  rather  because  you 
have  committed  an  unknightly  action  ?" 

The  glow  of  shame  that  overspread  the 
youth's  countenance  answered  this  question. 
"  But  you  should  not  on  that  account  wish 
to  die,"  resumed  Montfaugon.  "  You  should 
rather  wish  to  live  that  you  may  prove  your 
repentance,  and  make  your  name  illustrious 
by  many  noble  deeds.  For  you  are  endowed 
with  a  bold  spirit  and  with  strength  of  limb, 
and  also  with  the  quick  eye  of  one  fitted  to 
command.  I  should  have  made  you  a  knight 
this  very  hour,  if  you  had  borne  yourself  as 
bravely  in  a  good  cause  as  you  have  just 
now  done  in  a  most  unworthy  one.  See  to 
it,  that  there  may  not  be  much  delay  in  your 
receiving  that  high  honor.  I  trust  to  your 
fulfilling  the  promise  of  good  which  is  dis- 
cernible in  you." 

A  joyous  sound  of  music  interrupted  his 
discourse.  The  Lady  Gabrielle,  bright  as 


AND   HIS   COMPANIONS.  55 

the  morning,  had  now  come  down  from1  the 
ship,  surrounded  by  her  maidens;  and  hav- 
ing been  informed  by  Folko  in  a  few  words 
who  his  late  adversary  was,  she  spoke  of  the 
combat  as  if  it  had  only  been  a  fair  ahd  hon- 
orable passage  of  arms,  saying,  "  You  must 
not  be  cast  down,  noble  youth,  because  my 
wedded  lord  has  won  the  prize ;  for  be  it 
known  to  you  that  in  the  whole  world  there 
is  but  one  knight  who  can  boast  of  not  hav- 
ing been  overcome  by  the  baron  of  Montfau- 
gon.  And  who  can  say,"  continued  she, 
sportively,"  whether  even  that  would  have 
happened  had  he  not  set  himself  to  win  back 
the  magic  ring  from  me,  from  me  his  lady- 
love, destined  to  him,  as  well  by  the  choice 
of  my  own  heart  as  by  the  will  of  Heaven." 
Folko  bent  his  head  smiling  over  the  snow- 
white  hand  of  his  lady,  and  then  desired  the 
youth  to  conduct  them  to  his  father's  castle. 
Rolf  undertook  to  superintend  the  disem- 
barking of  the  horses  and  valuables  of  the 
strangers,  filled  with  joy  at  the  thought  that 
an  angel  in  woman's  form  had  appeared  to 
exercise  a  softening  influence  over  his  be- 
loved young  master,  and  perhaps  even  to 
free  him  from  that  curse  under  which  he 
had  so  long  suffered. 


56  SiNTRAM, 

Sintram  sent  messengers  all  around  to  seek 
for  his  father,  and  to  announce  to  him  the 
arrival  of  his  noble  guests.  They  therefore 
found  the  old  knight  in  his  castle,  with  every 
thing  prepared  for  their  reception.  Gabrielle 
could  not  enter  the  vast,  dark-looking  build- 

*  o 

ing  without  a  slight  shudder,  which  was  in- 
creased when  she  saw  the  rolling  fiery  eyes 
of  its  lord  ;  even  the  pale  dark-haired  Sintram 
seemed  to  her  to  assume  a  more  fearful  ap- 
pearance, and  she  sighed  to  herself:  "Oh! 
what  an  awful  abode  have  you  brought  me 
to  visit,  my  own  true  knight !  Oh !  that  we 
were  once  again  in  my  sunny  Gascony,  or 
in  your  knightly  Normandy !" 

But  the  grave  yet  courteous  reception 
they  met  with,  the  deep  respect  paid  to  her 
grace  and  beauty,  and  to  the  high  fame  of 
Folko,  helped  to  reassure  her ;  and  ere  long 
her  buoyant  spirit  took  pleasure  in  observ- 
ing all  the  strange  novelties  by  which  she 
was  surrounded.  And  besides,  it  could  only 
be  for  a  passing  moment  that  any  womanly 
fears  found  a  place  in  her  breast  when  her 
lord  was  near  at  hand — for  well  did  she 
know  what  effectual  protection  that  brave 
baron  was  ever  ready  to  afford  to  all  those 


AND    HIS    COMPANIONS.  57 

who  were  near  to  him,  or  any  way  committed 
to  his  charge. 

Soon  afterwards  Rolf  passed  through  the 
great  hall  in  which  Biorn  and  his  guests 
were  seated,  conducting  their  attendants, 
who  had  charge  of  the  baggage,  to  the 
apartments  allotted  to  strangers— and  Gabri- 
elle,  catching  sight  of  her  favorite  lute, 
desired  it  might  be  brought  to  her,  in  order 
that  she  might  see  if  the  precious  instrument 
had  suffered  any  damage.  As  she  bent  over 
it  with  earnest  attention,  and  her  taper  fin- 
gers ran  up  and  down  the  strings,  a  smile, 
bright  as  the  summer's  dawn,  lighted  up  the 
countenances  of  Biorn  and  his  son,  and  both 
said  with  an  involuntary  sigh :  "  Ah  !  if  you 
would  but  play  on  that  lute,  and  sing  to  it ! 
It  would  be  too  enchanting!"  The  lady 
looked  up  at  them  well  pleased,  and  smiling 
her  assent,  she  began  this  song : 

"  Songs  and  flowers  are  returning 

And  radiant  skies  of  May, 
Earth  her  choicest  gifts  is  yielding, 
But  one  is  past  away. 

The  spring  that  clothes  with  tend'rest  green, 

Each  grove  and  sunny  plain, 
Shines  not  for  nay  forsaken  heart, 

Brings  not  my  joys  again. 


58  Si 

Warble  not  so,  thou  nightingale, 

Upon  thy  blooming  spray, 
Thy  sweetness  now  will  burst  my  heart, 

I  cannot  bear  thy  lay. 

For  flowers  and  birds  are  come  again, 

And  breezes  mild  of  May, 
But  treasured  hopes  and  golden  hours 

Are  lost  to  me  for  aye !" 

The  two  Norwegians  sat  plunged  in  mel- 
ancholy thought;  but  gradually  Sintram's 
eyes  began  to  brighten  with  a  milder  expres- 
sion, his  cheeks  glowed,  every  feature  re- 
laxed, till  those  who  looked  at  him  could 
have  fancied  they  saw  a  glorified  spirit. 
The  good  Rolf  who  had  stood  listening  to 
the  song,  rejoiced  from  his  heart  as  he 
gazed  at  him,  and  devoutly  raised  his  hands 
in  pious  gratitude  to  heaven.  But  Gabri- 
elle's  astonishment  did  not  suffer  her  to  take 
her  eyes  off  Sintram.  At  last  she  said  to 
him :  "  I  should  much  like  to  know  what  it 
is  that  has  so  struck  you  in  that  little  song. 
It  is  merely  a  simple  lay  of  the  spring,  full 
of  the  images  which  that  sweet  season  never 
fails  to  call  up  in  the  minds  of  my  country- 
men." 

"  But  is  your  home  really  so  lovely,  so 
wondrously  full  of  poetry  and  its  delights?" 


AND    HIS    COMPANIONS.  59 

cried  the  enraptured  Sintram.  "  Then  I  am 
no  longer  surprised  at  your  heavenly 
beauty,  at  the  empire  you  have  already 
gained  over  my  hard,  wayward  heart !  For 
from  such  a  paradise  angelic  messengers 
would  surely  be  sent  to  comfort  and 
enlighten  the  dark  desolate  world  without." 
And  so  saying  he  fell  on  his  knees  before 
the  lady  in  an  attitude  of  deep  humility. 
Folko  looked  on  all  the  while  with  an 
approving  smile,  whilst  Gabrielle,  in  much 
embarrassment,  seemed  hardly  to  know  how 
she  should  treat  thp  Laif-wild,  yet  courteous 
young  stranger.  After  a  little  hesitation, 
however,  she  extended  her  fair  hand  to  him, 
and  said  as  she  gently  raised  him:  "Any 
one  who  listens  with  such  delight  to  music, 
must  surely  know  how  to  awaken  its  strains 
himself.  Take  my  lute,  and  let  us  hear  one 
of  your  spirit-stirring  songs." 

But  Sintram  drew  back,  and  would  not 
take  the  instrument,  and  he  said :  "  Heaven 
forbid  that  my  rough  untutored  hand  should 
touch  those  delicate  strings !  For  even 
were  I  to  begin  with  some  soft  strains,  yet 
before  long  the  wild  spirit  which  dwells  in 
me  would  break  out,  and  the  beautiful 
instrument  would  assuredly  be  injured  or 


60  S  I  N  T  R  A  M  , 

destroyed.  "No,  no,  suffer  me  rather  to 
fetch  my  own  huge  harp,  strung  with  bears' 
sinews  set  in  brass,  for  in  truth  I  do  feel 
myself  inspired  to  play  and  sing." 

Gabrielle  murmured  a  half-frightened  as- 
sent, and  Sintram  having  brought  his  harp, 
began  to  strike  it  loudly,  and  to  sing  these 
words  with  a  voice  no  less  powerful : 

"  Sir  Knight,  Sir  Knight,  oh  !  whither  away 
With  thy  snow-white  sail  on  the  foaming  spray  ?" 
Sing  heigh,  sing  ho,  for  the  land  of  flowers  I 

"  Too  long  have  I  trod  upon  ice  and  snow, 
I  seek  the  bowers  where  roses  blow." 

Sing  heigh,  sing  ho,  for  the  land  of  flowers  1 

He  steered  on  his  course  by  night  and  day, 
Till  he  cast  his  anchor  in  Naples  Bay. 
Sing  heigh,  sing  ho,  for  that  land  of  flowers  1 

There  wandered  a  lady  upon  the  strand, 
Her  fair  hair  bound  with  a  golden  band. 

Sing  heigh,  sing  ho,  for  that  land  of  flowers  I 

"  Hail  to  thee !  hail  to  thee !  Lady  bright, 
Mine  own  shalt  thou  be  ere  morning  light." 
Sing  heigh,  sing  ho,  for  that  land  of  flowers ! 

"  Not  so,  Sir  Knight,"  the  Lady  replied, 
"  For  you  speak  to  the  Margrave's  chosen  bride." 
Sing  heigh,  sing  ho,  for  that  land  of  flowers  1 

"  Your  lover  may  come  with  his  shield  and  spear, 
And  the  victor  shall  win  thee,  Lady  dear  1" 
Sing  heigh,  sing  ho,  for  that  land  of  flowers  1 


AND    HIS    COMPANIONS.  61 

"  Nay,  seek  for  another  bride,  I  pray, 
Most  i'air  are  the  maidens  of  Naples  Bay." 
Sing  heigh,  sing  ho,  for  that  land  of  flowers ! 

"  No,  Lady,  for  thee  my  heart  doth  burn, 
And  the  world  cannot  now  my  purpose  turn."          ^ 
Sing  heigh,  sing  ho,  for  that  land  of  flowers  1 

Then  came  the  young  Margrave,  hold  and  brave, 
But  low  was  he  laid  in  a  grassy  grave. 

Sing  heigh,  sing  ho,  for  that  land  of  flowers  1 

And  then  the  fierce  Northman  joyous  cried, 
"Now  shall  I  possess  lands,  castle  and  Bride !" 
Sing  heigh,  sing  ho,  for  that  land  of  flowers  I 

Sintram's  song  was  ended,  but  his  eyes 
glared  wildly,  and  the  vibrations  of  the  harp- 
Btrings  still  resounded  in  a  marvellous  man- 
ner. Biorn's  attitude  was  again  erect,  he 
stroked  his  long  beard  and  rattled  his  sword 
as  if  in  great  delight  at  what  he  had  just 
heard.  The  wild  song  and  the  strange  aspect 
of  the  father  and  son  made  G-abrielle  tremble 
more  than  ever,  but  a  glance  towards  the 
lord  of  Montfaucon  again  quieted  her  fears, 
for  there  he  sat  with  a  calm  smile  on  his  lips, 
as  composed  in  the  midst  of  all  the  noise  as 
though  it  had  only  been  caused  by  a  passing 
autumnal  storm. 


62  S  I  N  T  R  A  M  , 


CHAPTER    VII. 

SOME  weeks  had  passed  since  this,  when 
one  day,  as  the  shadows  of  evening  were 
beginning  to  fall,  Sintram  entered  the  garden 
of  the  castle  in  a  very  disturbed  state  of  mind. 
Although  the  presence  of  Gabrielle  never 
failed  to  sooth  and  calm  him,  yet  if  she  left 
the  apartment  for  even  a  few  instants,  the 
fearful  wildness  of  his  spirit  seemed  to  return 
with  renewed  strength.  On  this  occasion, 
after  having  in  the  kindest  manner  read 
legends  of  the  olden  times  to  his  father  Biorn 
during  great  part  of  the  day,  she  had  retired 
to  her  own  chamber.  The  sweet  tones  of 
her  lute  could  be  distinctly  heard  in  the 
garden  below,  but  the  sounds  only  drove  the 
agitated  youth  further  and  further  into  the 
deep  shades  of  the  ancient  trees  which  sur- 
rounded the  garden.  Stooping  suddenly  to 
avoid  some  overhanging  branches,  he  started 
at  finding  himself  close  to  something  which 
he  had  not  perceived  before,  and  which  at 
first  sight  he  took  for  a  small  bear  standing 


AND    HIS    COMPANIONS.  63 

on  its  hind  legs,  with  a  wonderfully  long  and 
crooked  horn  on  its  head.  He  drew  back  in 
surprise  and  fear,  a  shrill  voice  addressed 
these  words  to  him :  "  "Well,  my  brave  young 
knight,  whence  do  yon  come?  whither  are 
you  going  ?  and  wherefore  are  you  so  terri- 
fied ?"  And  then  he  became  aware  that 
what  he  saw  was  a  little  old  man  so  wrapped 
up  in  a  rough  garment  of  fur,  that  scarcely 
one  of  his  features  was  visible,  and  wearing 
in  his  cap  a  strange-looking  long  feather. 
"  But  whence  do  you  come  ?  and  whither  are 
you  going  ?''  returned  the  angry  Sintram. 
"  For  you  are  the  person  to  whom  such  ques- 
tions should  be  addressed.  "What  business 
have  you  in  our  domains,  you.  hideous  little 
being?" 

"  Well,  well,"  sneered  the  other  one,  "  I 
am  thinking  that  I  am  quite  big  enough  as 
I  am.  And  as  to  the  rest,  why  should  you 
object  to  my  being  here  hunting  for  snails  ? 
Snails  can  not  surely  be  included  in  the  game 
which  your  high  mightinesses  consider  that 
you  alone  have  a  right  to  pursue  ?  Now  it 
happens  that  I  know  how  to  prepare  from 
them  an  excellent,  high-flavored  beverage ; 
and  I  have  taken  a  sufficient  number  for  to- 
day, marvellous  fat  little  animals,  with  wise 


64  SlNTRAM, 

faces  like  a  man's,  and  long  twisted  horns  on 
their  heads.  Would  you  like  to  see  them  ? 
Look  here  1" 

And  then  he  began  to  unfasten  and  fum- 
ble about  his  fur  garment,  till  Sintram,  filled 
with  disgust  and  horror,  said :  "  Psha !  I 
detest  such  animals !  Be  quiet,  and  tell  me 
at  once  who  and  what  you  yourself  are." 

"  Are  you  so  bent  upon  knowing  my  name  ?  *' 
replied  the  little  man.  "  Let  it  content  you 
to  hear  that  I  am  Master  of  all  secret  know- 
ledge, and  well  versed  in  the  most  intricate 
depths  of  ancient  history.  Ah  !  my  young 
sir,  if  you  would  only  hear  some  of  the 
things  I  have  to  tell !  But  you  are  too  much 
afraid!" 

"  Afraid  of  you !"  cried  Sintram,  with  a 
wild  laugh. 

"  Many  a  better  man  than  you  has  been  so 
before  now,"  muttered  the  Little  Master, 
"  but  they  did  not  like  being  told  of  it  any 
more  than  you  do." 

"  To  prove  that  you  are  mistaken,"  said 
Sintram,  "  I  will  remain  here  with  you  till 
the  moon  has  risen  high  in  the  heavens.  But 
you  must  relate  to  me  one  of  your  stories  the 
while." 

The  little  man  nodded  his  head  with  a 


AND    HIS    COMPANIONS.  65 

look  of  much  satisfaction,  and  as  they  paced 
together  up  and  down  a  retired  walk,  shaded 
by  lofty  elni-trees,  he  began  discoursing  as 
follows : 

"  Many  hundred  years  ago  a  young  knight 
called  Paris  of  Troy  lived  in  that  sunny  land 
of  the  south  where  are  found  the  sweetest 
songs,  the  brightest  flowers,  and  the  most 
beautiful  ladies.  You  know  a  song  that  tells 
of  that  fair  land,  do  you  not,  young  sir? 
'  Sing  heigh,  sing  ho,  for  that  land  of  flow- 
ers.' '  Sintram  gave  a  sign  of  assent,  and 
sighed  deeply.  "JSTow,"  resumed  the  Little 
Master,  "  it  happened  that  Paris  led  that 
kind  of  life  which  is  not  uncommon  in  those 
countries,  and  of  which  their  poets  often  sing 
— he  would  pass  whole  months  together  in 
the  garb  of  a  peasant,  making  the  woods  and 
mountains  resound  to  the  tones  of  his  lute, 
and  watching  the  flocks  which  he  led  to  pas- 
ture. Here  one  day  three  beautiful  goddess- 
es appeared  to  him,  who  were  disputing  about 
a  golden  apple — and  they  appealed  to  him  to 
decide  which  of  them  was  the  most  beauti- 
ful, as  to  her  the  golden  prize  was  to  be  ad- 
judged. The  first  had  power  to  give  thrones 
and  sceptres  and  crowns  to  whom  she  would 
— the  second  could  give  wisdom  and  knowl- 


66  S  I  N  T  R  A  M  , 

edge — and  the  third  knew  how  to  prepare 
love-charms  which  could  not  fail  of  securing 
the  affections  of  the  fairest  of  women.  Each 
one  in  turn  proffered  her  choicest  gifts  to  the 
young  shepherd,  in  order  that,  tempted  by 
them,  he  might  give  the  prize  to  her.  But 
as  beauty  charmed  him  more  than  any  thing 
else  in  the  world,  he  decided  that  the  third 
goddess  should  win  the  golden  apple — her 
name  was  Venus.  The  two  others  departed 
in  great  displeasure,  but  Yenus  bid  him  put 
on  his  knightly  armor,  and  his  helmet  adorn- 
ed with  waving  feathers,  and  then  she  con- 
ducted liim  to  a  famous  city  called  Sparta, 
where  ruled  the  noble  king  Menelaus.  His 
young  wife  Helen  was  the  loveliest  woman  on 
earth,  and  the  goddess  offered  her  to  Paris 
in  return  for  the  golden  apple.  He  was  most 
ready  to  have  her,  and  wished  for  nothing 
better ;  but  he  asked  how  he  was  to  gain 
possession  of  her." 

"  Paris  can  have  been  but  a  sorry  knight," 
interrupted  Sintram.  "Such  things  are 
easily  settled.  The  husband  is  challenged 
to  a  single  combat,  and  he  that  is  victorious, 
carries  off  the  wife." 

"  But  King  Menelaus  was  exercising  hos- 


AND    HIS    COMPANIONS.  67 

pitality  towards  tlie  young  knight,"  said  the 
narrator. 

"  Listen  to  me,  Little  Master,"  cried  Sin- 
tram,  "  he  might  have  asked  the  goddess  for 
some  other  beautiful  woman,  and  then  have 
mounted  his  horse,  or  weighed  anchor,  and 
departed  in  search  of  her." 

"  Yes,  yes,  it  is  very  easy  to  say  so,"  re- 
plied tlie  old  man.  "  But  if  you  only  knew 
how  bewitchingly  lovely  this  Queen  Helen 
was.  After  seeing  her,  no  admiration  was 
left  for  any  one  else."  And  then  he  began 
a  glowing  description  of  the  charms  of  this 
wondrously  beautiful  princess,  giving  to  her 
every  one  of  Gabrielle's  features  with  such 
exactness,  that  Sintram,  overcome  with  emo- 
tion, was  obliged  to  lean  against  a  tree  to 
support  himself.  The  Little  Master  stood 
opposite  to  him,  grinning,  and  he  asked, 
"Well,  now,  could  you  have  advised  that 
poor  knight  Paris  to  fly  from  her  ?" 

"  Tell  me  at  once  what  happened  next," 
stammered  Sintram. 

"  The  goddess  acted  honorably  towards 
Paris,"  continued  the  old  man.  "She  de- 
clared to  him  that  if  he  would  carry  away 
the  lovely  princess  to  his  own  city,  Troy,  he 


G8  S  I  N  T  R  A  M  , 

might  do  so,  and  thus  cause  the,  ruin  of  his 
whole  house  and  of  his  country ;  but  that 
during  ten  years  he  would  be  able  to  defend 
Troy  against  his  enemies  and  live  happy  in 
the  love  -of  his  fair  lady." 

"  And  he  took  her  on  those  terms,  unless 
he  was  a  fool !"  cried  the  youth. 

"  To  be  sure  he  accepted  them,"  whisper- 
ed the  Little  Master.  "  I  would  have  done 
so  in  his  place  !  And  do  you  know,  young 
sir,  it  once  fell  out  that  the  appearance  of 
things  was  exactly  like  what  we  now  see. 
The  newly  risen  moon,  partly  veiled  by 
clouds,  was  shining  dimly  through  the 
thick  branches  of  the  trees  in  the  silence  of 
the  evening.  Leaning  against  a  tree,  as  you 
are  now  doing,  there  stood  the  young  en 
amoured  knight  Paris,  and  at  his  side  the 
enchantress  Venus,  but  so  disguised  and 
transformed,  that  she  did  not  look  much 
more  attractive  than  I  do.  And  by  the  sil- 
very light  of  the  moon,  the  form  of  the 
beautiful  beloved  one  was  seen  sweeping  by 
amidst  the  whispering  boughs."  He  was 
silent,  and,  as  if  to  realize  his  deluding 
words,  Gabrielle  just  then  appeared,  musing 
as  she  walked  alone  down  the  alley  of  elms. 
"Awful  being,  by  what  name  shall  I  call 


AND    HIS    COMPANIONS.  69 

you  ?  "What  is  it  that  you  would  drive  me 
to  ?"  muttered  the  trembling  Sintram. 

"  Do  not  you    remember    your    father's 
strong  fortress  on  the  Hocks  of  the  Moon  ?" 

O 

replied  the  old  man.  "  The  castellan  and 
the  garrison  are  entirely  devoted  to  you.  It 
could  well  stand  a  ten  years'  siege,  and  the 
postern  gate  which  leads  to  it  is  open,  as  was 
that  of  the  royal  citadel  of  Sparta  for  the 
happy  Paris."  The  youth  looked,  and  per- 
ceived in  fact  that  a  gate  in  the  garden-wall, 
which  was  usually  closed,  had  now  been  left 
open,  and  that  the  distant  mountains  lighted 
up  by  the  moon  might  be  clearly  seen 
through  it.  "  And  if  he  did  not  accept,  he 
was  a  fool,"  said  the  Little  Master,  with  a 
grin,  echoing  Sintram's  former  words.  At 
that  moment,  Gabrielle  drew  near  to  him. 
She  was  within  reach  of  his  grasp,  had  he 
made  the  least  movement ;  and  the  moon,  as 
it  shone  on  her  heavenly  countenance,  gave 
new  charms  to  it.  The  youth  had  already 
bent  forwards. 

"  My  Lord  and  God,  I  pray 
Turn  from  his  heart  away 

This  world's  turmoil. 
And  call  him  to  Thy  light, 
Be  it  through  sorrow's  night, 
Through  pain  or  toil." 


70  S  I  X  T  R  A  If  , 

These  words  were  sung  by  old  Rolf  at  that 
very  time,  as  he  lingered  on  the  banks  of 
the  lake  by  the  castle,  seeking  a  relief  to  his 
anxious  thoughts  concerning  Sintram  in  the 
fervent  supplications  he  addressed  to  the  Al- 
mighty. The  sounds  reached  Sintrani's  ear ; 
lie  stood  as  if  spell-bound,  and  made  the  sign 
of  the  Cross.  Immediately  the  Little  Master 
fled  away,  jumping  uncouthly  on  one  leg 
through  the  gates  and  shutting  them  after 
him  with  a  loud  noise. 

Sintram  approached  the  terrified  Gabrielle, 
and  said,  as  he  offered  his  arm  to  support 
her :  "  Suffer  me  to  lead  you  back  to  the 
castle.  The  nights  in  these  northern  regions 
are  often  wild  and  fearful." 


AND   HIS   COMPANIONS.  71 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

found  the  two  knights  within  sit- 
ting  together,  after  their  evening  repast. 
Folko  was  relating  stories  in  his  usual  mild 
and  cheerful  manner,  and  Biorn  was  listening 
with  a  moody  air,  but  yet  as  if  against  his 
will  the  dark  cloud  might  pass  away  under 
the  influence  of  his  companion's  bright  and 
gentle  courtesy.  Gabrielle  saluted  the  baron 
with  a  smile,  and  signed  to  him  to  continue 
his  discourse,  as  she  took  her  place  next  to 
Biorn,  with  the  watchful  kindness  which 
ever  marked  her  bearing  towards  him.  Sin- 
tram  the  while  stood  by  the  hearth,  ab- 
stracted and  melancholy,  and  the  embers,  as 
he  stirred  them,  cast  an  unnatural  gleam 
over  his  pallid  features. 

"  And  of  all  the  German  trading  towns," 
continued  Montfaugon,  "  the  largest  and 
richest  is  Hamburgh.  In  Normandy  the 
merchants  of  this  city  are  always  received 
with  a  hearty  welcome,  and  those  excellent 
people  never  fail  to  prove  themselves  our 
friends  when  we  seek  their  advice  and  assis- 


72  SlNTKAM, 

tanee.  When  I  first  visited  Hamburgh, 
every  honor  and  respect  was  paid  me.  I 
found  its  inhabitants  engaged  in  a  war  with 
a  neighboring  prince,  and  immediately  I  de- 
voted my  sword  to  their  service,  and  that 
not  without  success." 

"Your  sword  !  your  knightly  sword  !"  in- 
terrupted Biorn,  and  more  than  the  wonted 
fire  flashed  from  his  eyes.  "  You  turned  it 
against  a  knight,  and  on  behalf  of  shop- 
keepers !" 

"  Sir  knight,"  replied  Folko  calmly,  "  the 
barons  of  Hontfaucon  have  ever  been  used 
to  take  the  side  which  they  esteemed  the 
right  one  in  combats,  without  consulting  in- 
different bystanders,  and  as  I  have  received 
this  good  custom  from  my  forefathers,  so  do 
I  wish  to  hand  it  on  to  my  remotest  descend- 
ants. If  you  do  not  esteem  this  a  wise  prac- 
tice, you  are  at  liberty  to  speak  your  opinion 
freely.  But  I  cannot  suffer  you  to  say  any 
thing  against  the  people  of  Hamburgh  after 
I  have  declared  them  to  be  my  friends  and 
allies." 

Biorn  cast  down  his  fierce  eyes  to  the 
ground,  and  their  wild  expression  seemed  to 
fade  away.  He  said  in  a  subdued  tone: 
"  Proceed,  noble  baron.  You  are  right,  and 


AXD    HIS    COMPANIONS.  73 

I  am  wrong."  Then  Folko  stretched  out  his 
hand  to  him  across  the  table,  and  resumed 
his  narration  :  "  Amongst  all  my  beloved 
Hamburghers  the  dearest  to  me  are  two  very 
remarkable  men — a  father  and  son.  What 
have  they  not  seen  and  done  in  the  remotest 
corners  of  the  earth  !  and  how  has  every 
talent  been  devoted  to  the  good  of  their  na- 
tive town !  My  life  has  by  the  blessing  of 
God  been  not  unfruitful  in  deeds  of  renown, 
but  in  comparison  with  the  wise  Gotthard 
Leuz-  and  his  stout-hearted  son  Rudlieb,  I 
look  upon  myself  as  nothing  but  an  esquire, 
who  has  perhaps  some  few  times  attended 
knights  to  tourneys,  and  besides  that  has 
never  gone  out  of  his  own  forests.  They 
have  carried  the  light  of  religion,  and  with 
it  happiness  and  peace,  to  savage  nations 
whose  very  names  are  unknown  to  me  ;  and 
the  wealth  which  they  have  brought  back 
from  those  distant  climes  has  all  been  given 
to  promote  the  common  welfare  as  unhesi- 
tatingly as  if  no  other  use  could  possibly  be 
devised  for  it.  On  their  return  from  their 
long  and  perilous  sea  voyages,  they  hasten 
to  an  hospital  which  has  been  founded  by 
them,  and  of  which  they  undertake  the  en- 
tire charge.  Then  they  proceed  to  select 


74  SlNTRAM, 

the  most  fitting  spots  whereon  to  erect  new 
towers  and  fortresses  for  the  defence  of  their 
beloved  country.  Next  they  repair  to  the 
houses  where  strangers  and  travelers  receive 
hospitality  at  their  cost — and  then  the}7  re- 
turn to  their  own  abode,  where  guests  are 
entertained  with  a  splendor  worthy  of  a, 
king's  palace,  and  yet  with  the  unassuming 
simplicity  of  manners  which  is  thought  only 
to  belong  to  the  shepherd's  cot.  Many  a 
tale  of  their  wondrous  adventures  serves  to 
enliven  these  sumptuous  feasts.  Amongst 
others,  I  remember  to  have  heard  my  friends 
relate  one  at  the  thought  of  which  I  still 
shudder.  Possibly  I  may  gain  some  more 
complete  information  on  the  subject  from 
you.  It  appears  that  several  years  ago,  just 
about  the  time  of  the  Christmas  festival, 
Gotthard  and  Rudlieb  were  shipwrecked  on 
the  coast  of  Norway,  during  a  violent  win- 
ter's tempest ;  they  could  never  exactly  as- 
certain the  situation  of  the  rocks  on  which 
their  vessel  stranded  ;  but  so  much  is  certain, 
that  very  near  the  sea-shore  stood  a  huge 
castle,  to  which  the  father  and  son  betook 
themselves,  seeking  for  that  assistance  and 
shelter  which  Christian  people  are  ever  will- 
ing to  afford  each*  other  in  case  of  need. 


AND  HIS  COMPANIONS.  75 

They  went  alone,  leaving  their  followers  to 
watch  the  ship.  The  castle  gates  were 
thrown  open,  and  they  thought  all  was  well. 
But  on  a  sudden  the  court-yard  was  filled 
with  armed  men,  who  with  one  accord  aimed 
their  sharp  iron-pointed  spears  at  the  de- 
fenceless strangers,  whose  dignified  remon- 
strances and  mild  entreaties  were  only  heard 
in  sullen  silence  or  with  scornful  jeerings. 
After  awhile  a  knight  came  down  the  stairs, 
his  eyes,  so  to  speak,  flashing  fire,  they 
hardly  knew  whether  to  think  they  saw 
some  fearful  apparition  or  a  wild  heathen — 
he  gave  a  signal,  and  the  fatal  spears  closed 
around  them.  At  that  instant  the  soft  tones 
of  a  woman's  voice  fell  on  their  ear;  she  was 
calling  on  the  Saviour's  "holy  name  for  aid  ; 
at  the  sound,  the  wild  figures  in  the  court- 
yard rushed  madly  one  against  the  other, 
the  gates  burst  open,  and  Gotthard  and  E,ud- 
lieb  fled  away,  catching  a  glimpse  as  they 
went  of  an  angelic  face  which  appeared  at 
one  of  the  windows  of  the  castle.  They 
made  every  exertion  to  get  their  ship  again 
afloat,  preferring  to  trust  themselves  to  the 
treacherous  sea  rather  than  to  remain  on 
that  barbarous  coast ;  and  at  last  they  landed 
in  Denmark,  after  encountering  many  perils 


76  Si  XT RAM, 

and  dangers.  They  have  always  said  that 
it  must  have  been  a  heathen's  castle  in  which 
they  were  so  cruelly  treated,  but  I  am  rather 
disposed  to  think  it  was  some  ruined  fortress, 
long  deserted  by  men,  in  which  evil  spirits 
vrere  wont  to  hold  their  nightly  assemblies, 
for  is  it  possible  to  imagine  that  even  a  hea- 
then could  be  found  with  so  much  of  a  de- 
mon's temper  as  to  meet  strangers,  asking 
for  hospitality,  with  deadly  weapons,  instead 
of  the  refreshment  and  shelter  they  needed  ?" 
Biorn  gazed  fixedly  on  the  ground,  as 
though  he  were  turned  into  stone — but  Sin- 
tram  came  towards  the  table,  and  said : 
"Father,  let  us  eeek  out  this  wicked  abode, 
and  let  us  level  it  to  the  ground.  I  cannot 
tell  how,  but  I  feel  quite  sure  that  the  ac- 
cursed deed  we  have  just  heard  of  is  alone 
the  cause  of  my  frightful  dreams."  Enraged 
at  his  son's  words,  Biorn  rose  up,  and  would 
perhaps  again  have  uttered  some  dreadful 
imprecation,  but  Heaven  decreed  otherwise, 
for  just  at  that  moment  the  pealing  notes  of 
a  trumpet  were  heard,  which  drowned  the 
angry  tones  of  his  voice ;  the  great  doors 
opened  slowly,  and  a  hejald  entered  the 
hall.  He  bowed  reverently,  and  then  said : 
"  I  am  sent  by  Jarl  Eric  the  aged.  He  re- 


AND  HIS   COMPANIONS.  It 

turned  two  days  ago  from  his  expedition  to 
the  Grecian  seas.  His  wish  had  heen  to 
take  vengeance  on  the  island  which  is  called 
Chios,  where  fifty  years  ago  his  father  was 
blain  by  the  soldiers  of  the  emperor.  But 
your  kinsman,  the  sea-king  Arinbiorn,  who 
was  lying  there  at  anchor,  tried  to  pacify 
him  and  turn  him  from  his  purpose — to  this 
Jarl  Eric  would  not  listen — so  the  sea-king 
said  next  that  he  would  never  suffer  Chios 
to  be  laid  waste,  because  it  was  an  island 
where  the  lays  of  an  old  Greek  bard,  called 
Homer,  were  excellently  sung,  and  where 
moreover  a  very  choice  wine  was  made. 
"Words  proving  of  no  avail,  a  combat  ensued, 
in  which  Arinbiorn  had  so  much  the  advan- 
tage that  Jarl  Eric  lost  two  of  his  ships,  and 
only  with  difficulty  escaped  in  one  which 
had  already  sustained  great  damage.  Eric 
the  aged  has  now  resolved  to  take  revenge 
on  some  of  the  sea-king's  race,  since  Arin- 
biorn himself  is  rarely  to  be  found.  Will 
you,  Biorn  of  the  Fiery  Eyes,  at  once  pay 
as  large  a  penalty  in  cattle  and  goods  of 
whatever  description,  as  it  may  please  the 
Jarl  to  demand?  Or  will  you  prepare  to 
meet  him  with  an  armed  force  at  Niflung's 
Heath  seven  days  hence?" 
7* 


18  Si  XT  RAM, 

Biorn  bowed  his  head  quietly,  and  replied 
in  a  mild  tone :  "  Seven  days  hence  at 
Kiflnng's  Heath."  He  then  offered  to  the 
hprald  a  golden  goblet  fall  of  rich  wine,  and 
added  :  "  Drink  that,  and  then  cany  off  with 
thee  the  cup  which  thou  hast  emptied." 

•'  The  baron  of  Montfaucon  likewise  sends 
greeting  to  thy  chieftain  Jarl  Eric,"  inter- 
posed Folko,  "  and  engages  to  be  also  at 
Niflung's  Heath,  as  the  hereditary  friend  of 
the  sea-king's  house,  and  also  as  being  the 
kinsman  and  guest  of  Biorn  of  the  Fiery 
Eyes." 

The  herald  was  seen  to  tremble  at  the 
name  of  Hontfaugon,  he  bowed  very  low, 
cast  an  anxious,  reverential  look  at  the 
baron,  and  left  the  hall.  Gabrielle  looked 
on  her  knight  with  a  smile  that  spoke  of  en- 
tire trust  in  his  valor,  when  she  heard  him 
pledge  himself  to  appear  in  the  field,  and 
she  only  asked,  "Where  shall  I  remain 
whilst  you  go  forth  to  battle,  Folko  ?"  "I 
had  hoped,"  answered  Biorn,  "  that  you 
would  be  well  contented  to  stay  in.  this 
castle,  lovely  lady ;  I  leave  my  son  to  guard 
you  and  attend  on  you."  Gabrielle  hesitated 
an  instant,  and  Sintrarn,  who  had  resumed 
his  position  near  the  fire,  muttered  to  him- 


AND   HIS   COMPANIONS.  T9 

self  as  lie  fixed  his  eyes  on  the  bright  flam-  s 
which  were  flashing  up:  ''Yes,  yes,  so  it 
will  probably  happen.  I  can  fancy  the  king 
Menelaus  had  just  left  Sparta  on  some  war- 
like expedition  when  the  young  knight  Paris 
met  the  lovely  Helen  that  evening  in  the 
garden."  But  Gabrielle,  shuddering,  al- 
though she  knew  not  why,  said  quickly  : 
"Remain  here  without  you,  Folko?  And 
how  could  I  bear  to  forego  the  joy  of  seeing 
you  win  fresh  laurels  ?  or  the  honor  of  tend- 
ing you,  should  you  chance  to  receive  a 
wound  2"  Folko  bent  his  head  in  acknowl- 
edgment of  his  lady's  anxious  tenderness, 
and  replied :  "  Come  with  your  own  true 
knight,  since  such  is  your  pleasure,  and  be 
to  him  a  bright  guiding  star.  It  is  a  good 
old  northern  custom  that  ladies  should  be 
present  at  knightly  combats,  and  no  true 
warrior  of  the  north  will  fail  to  respect  the 
place  whence  beams  the  light  of  their  eyes. 
Unless,  indeed,"  continued  he,  with  an  in- 
quiring look  at  Biorn,  "  unless  Jarl  Eric  has 
degenerated  from  his  valiant  forefathers  ?" 

o 

"  His  honor  may  be  relied  on,'1  said  Biorn 
confidently. 

"  Then  array  yourself,  my  fairest  love," 
said  the  delighted  Folko,  "  array  yourself, 


80  S  I  N  T  R  A  M  , 

and  come  forth  with  us  to  the  battle-field,  to 
behold  and  judge  our  knightly  deeds." 

<k  Come  forth  with  us  to  the  battle-field, " 
echoed  Sin  tram,  in  a  sudden  transport  of  joy. 

And  they  all  dispersed ;  Sintram  betaking 
himself  again  to  the  wood,  while  the  others 
retired  to  rest. 


AND    HIS    COMPANIONS.  81 


CHAPTER    IX. 

IT  was  a  wild,  dreary  tract  of  country 
that  which  bore  the  name  of  jSTiflung's 
Heath.  According  to  tradition,  the  young 
Niflung,  son  of  Hogni,  the  last  of  his  race, 
had  there  ended  in  sadness  and  ohscurity  a 
life  which  no  warlike  deeds  had  rendered 
illustrious.  Many  ancient  monuments  of  the 
dead  were  still  standing  round  about,  and  in 
the  few  oak-trees  scattered  here  and  there 
over  the  plain,  huge  eagles  had  built  their 
nests — the  beating  of  their  heavy  wings  as 
they  fought  together,  and  their  wild  screams, 
were  heard  far  off  in  regions  more  thickly 
peopled  by  man,  and  at  the  sound  children 
would  tremble  in  their  cradles,  and  old  men 
quake  with  fear  as  they  sat  over  the  blazing 
hearth. 

As  the  seventh  night,  the  last  before  the 
day  of  combat,  was  just  beginning,  two  large 
armies  were  seen  descending  from  the  hills 
in  opposite  directions  :  that  which  came  from 
the  west  was  commanded  by  Eric  the  aged, 
that  from  the  east  by  Biorii  of  the  Fiery 


82  S  I  X  T  R  A  II , 

Eyes.  They  appeared  tlras  early  in  com- 
pliance with  the  custom  which  required  that 
adversaries  should  always  present  themselves 
at  the  appointed  field  of  battle  before  the 
time  named,  in  order  to  prove  that  they 
rather  sought  than  dreaded  the  hour  of  trial. 
Folko  immediately  chose  out  the  most  con- 
venient spot  for  the  tent  of  blue  and  gold  to 
be  pitched,  which  was  to  shelter  his  gentle 
lady ;  whilst  Sintram,  in  the  character  of 
herald,  rode  over  to  Jarl  Eric  to  announce  to 
him  that  the  beauteous  Gabrielle  of  Mont- 
faugon  was  there,  guarded  by  his  father's 
warriors,  and  would  the  next  morning  bo 
present  as  a  judge  of  the  combat. 

Jarl  Eric  bowed  low  on  receiving  this  in- 
telligence, and  ordered  his  bards  to  strike  up 
a  lay,  the  words  of  which  ran  as  follows : — 

"  Warriors  bold  of  Eric's  band, 
Gird  your  glittering  armor  on, 
Stand  beneath  to-morrow's  sun, 

In  your  might. 

Fairest  dame  that  ever  gladdened 
Our  wild  shores  with  beauty's  vision, 
May  thy  bright  eyes  o'er  our  combat 

Judge  the  right. 

Tidings  of  yon  noble  stranger 
Long  ago  have  reached  our  ears, 
Wafted  upon  southern  breezes, 

O'er  the  wave. 


AND    HIS    COMPANIONS.  83 

Now  midst  yonder  hostile  ranks, 
In  his  warlike  pride  he  meets  us, 
Folko  conies !  Fight,  men  of  Eric, 

True  and  brave  I" 

These  wondrous  tones  floated  over  the 
plain,  and  reached  the  tent  of  Gabrielle.  It 
was  no  new  thing  to  hear  her  knight's  fame 
celebrated  on  all  sides,  but  now  that  she  lis- 
tened to  his  praises  bursting  forth  in  the  still- 
ness of  night  from  the  mouths  of  his  enemies, 
she  could  scarcely  refrain  from  kneeling  at 
the  feet  of  the  mighty  chieftain.  But  he, 
with  courteous  tenderness,  prevented  her 
from  sinking  into  that  lowly  posture,  and 
pressing  his  lips  fervently  on  her  snow-white 
hand,  he  said,  "My  deeds,  oh  lovely  lady, 
belong  to  thee,  and  not  to  me !" 

No  sooner  had  the  darkness  of  night  passed 
away,  and  the  red  streaks  in  the  east  an- 
nounced the  arrival  of  the  appointed  morn- 
ing, than  the  whole  plain  seemed  alive  with 
preparations  for  the  combat ;  knights  put  on 
their  rattling  armor,  war-horses  began  to 
neigh  impatiently,  the  morning-draught  went 
round  in  gold  and  silver  goblets,  while  war- 
songs  and  the  harps  of  the  bards  resounded 
far  and  near.  A  joyous  march  was  heard  in 
Biorn's  camp,  as  Montfaugon,  with  his  troops 


84  S  I  N  T  R  A  M  , 

and  retainers,  all  clad  in  bright  steel  armor, 
conducted  their  lady  up  to  a  neighboring 
hill,  where  she  would  be  safe  from  the  spears 
•which  would  soon  be  flying  in  all  directions, 
and  whence  she  could  command  a  complete 
view  of  the  battle-field.  The  morning  sun 
lighted  up  her  lovely  features,  adding  radiance 
to  her  surpassing  beauty,  and  as  she  came  in 
view  of  the  camp  of  Jarl  Eric,  his  soldiers 
lowered  their  weapons,  whilst  the  chieftains 
bent  their  proud  heads  which  were  covered 
with  huge  helmets.  Two  of  Montfaucon's 
pages  remained  in  attendance  on  the  lady 
Gabrielle,  well  content  to  exchange  their 
.  hopes  of  gaining  renown  in  the  battle-field 
for  the  far  greater  honor  of  being  chosen  to 
fulfil  this  office.  Both  armies  passed  in  front 
of  her,  saluting  her  as  they  went;  they  then 
placed  themselves  in  array,  and  the  fight 
began. 

The  spears  flew  from  the  hands  of  the 
stout  northern  warriors,  rattling  against  the 
broad  shields  under  which  they  sheltered 
themselves,  or  sometimes  clattering  as  they 
met  in  the  air ;  at  intervals,  on  one  side  or 
the  other,  a  man  was  struck,  and  fell  bathed 
in  his  blood.  After  a  short  pause,  the  knight 
of  Montfaucon  advanced  with  his  troop  of 


AND    HIS    COMPANIONS.  85 

Gorman  horsemen — even  as  he  dashed  past 
he  did  not  fail  to  lower  his  shining  sword  to 
salute  Gabrielle,  and  then,  with  a  loud  exult- 
ing war-cry,  which  burst  from  the  lips  of  all, 
they  charged  the  left  wing  of  the  enemy. 
Eric's  foot-soldiers,  kneeling  firmly  in  close 
ranks,  received  them  with  fixed  javelins — 
many  a  noble  horse  fell  wounded  to  death, 
and  in  fallino;  brought  his  rider  with  him  to 

O  O 

the  ground — others  again  crushed  their  foes 
under  them  as  they  writhed  in  mortal  agonies. 
In  the  midst  of  the  confusion  and  bloodshed, 
Folko  and  his  war-steed  escaped  unhurt,  and 
followed  by  a  small  band  of  chosen  men,  he 
clashed  through  the  hostile  ranks.  Already 
were  they  falling  into  disorder,  already  were 
Biorn's  warriors  giving  shouts  of  victory, 
when  a  troop  of  horse  headed  by  Jarl  Eric 
himself,  advanced  against  the  valiant  baron 
of  Montfaugon ;  and  whilst  his  Normans, 
hastily  assembling  round  their  leader,  assisted 
him  in  repelling  this  unexpected  attack,  the 
enemy's  infantry  were  gradually  forming 
themselves  into  a  thick  impenetrable  mass, 
which  rolled  on  in  formidable  strength.  All 
these  movements  seemed  to  be  directed  by  a 
warrior  in  the  centre,  whose  loud  piercing 
shout  was  heard  at  every  instant.  And 
8 


86  SlXTR AM, 

scarcely  were  tlie  troops  formed  into  this 
close  array,  when  suddenly  they  spread  them- 
selves out  on  all  sides,  carrying  every  thing 
before  them  with  the  irresistible  force  of  the 
burning  torrent  from  a  volcano. 

Biorn's  soldiers,  who  had  thought  them- 

9  O 

selves  on  the  point  of  inclosing  their  en- 
emies, lost  courage  and  gave  way  at  once 
before  this  wondrous  onset.  The  knight 
himself  in  vain  attempted  to  stem  the  tide 
of  fugitives,  and  with  difficulty  escaped 
being  carried  away  by  it. 

Sintram  stood  looking  on  this  scene  of  con- 
fusion with  mute  indignation  ;  friends  and 
foes  passed  by  him,  all  equally  avoiding  him, 
and  dreading  to  come  in  contact  with  one 
whose  aspect  was  so  fearful,  nay  almost  un- 
earthly, in  his  motionless  rage.  He  aimed 
no  blow  either  to  right  or  left,  his  powerful 
battle-axe  hung  idly  at  his  side.  But  his 
eye  flashed  fire,  and  seemed  to  be  piercing 
the  enemy's  ranks  through  and  through,  in 
the  endeavor  to  find  out  who  it  was  that  had 
conjured  up  this  sudden  warlike  spirit.  At 
length  he  discovered  the  object  of  his  search. 
A  small  man  clothed  in  strange-looking 

O  O 

armor,  with  large  golden  horns  in  his  hel- 
met, and  a  long  visor,  advancing  in  front  of 


AXD   HIS   COMPANIONS.  87 

it,  was  leaning  on  a  two-edged  curved  spear, 
and  seemed  to  be  looking  with  derision  at 
the  hasty  flight  of  Biorn's  troops  as  they 
were  pursued  by  their  victorious  foes.  "  That 
is  he,"  cried  Sintram,  "  he  v.ho  would  bring 
rne  to  disgrace  before  the  eyes  of  Gabrielle !" 
And  with  the  swiftness  of  an  arrow  he  flew 
towards  him,  uttering  a  wild  shout  of  defi- 
ance. The  combat  was  fierce,  but  not  of 
long  duration.  To  the  wondrous  dexterity 
<  :'  hia  adversary,  Sintram  opposed  his  far 
superior  strength  and  height,  and  he  dealt 
such  a  tremendous  blow  on  the  homed  hel- 
met that  a  stream  of  blood  rushed  forth,  the 
small  man  fell  as  if  stunned,  and,  after  some 
frightful  convulsive  movements,  his  limbs 
appeared  to  stiffen  in  death. 

His  overthrow  gave  the  signal  for  that  of 
all  Eric's  army.  Even  those  who  had  not 
eeen  him  fall,  suddenly  lost  their  courage, 
and  again  retreated  in  confusion,  or  ran  in 
wild  affright  on  the  very  spears  of  their 
enemies.  At  the  same  time  Montfaugon  was 
dispersing  Jarl  Eric's  cavalry,  after  a  des- 
perate conflict,  and  had  taken  their  chief 
prisoner  with  his  own  hand.  Biorn  of  the 
Fiery  Eyes  stood  victorious  in  the  middle  of 
the  field  of  battle.  The  day  was  won. 


88  Si  NT  BAM, 


CHAPTER   X. 

IN  full  view  of  both  armies,  with  glowing 
cheeks  and  looks  of  modest  humility, 
Sintram  was  conducted  by  the  brave  baron 
of  Montfaucon  up  the  hill  where  Gabrielle 
stood  in  all  the  lustre  of  her  beauty.  Both 
warriors  bent  the  knee  before  her,  and  Folko 
said  with  much  solemnity :  "  Lady,  this  val- 
iant youth  of  a  noble  race  has  borne  away 
the  palm  of  victory  to-day.  I  pray  you  to 
let  him  receive  from  your  fair  hand  the  re- 
ward to  which  he  is  so  justly  entitled." 

Gabrielle  bowed  courteously,  took  off  her 
scarf  of  blue  arid  gold,  and  fastened  to  it  a 
bright  sword  which  a  page  brought  to  her 
on  a  cushion  of  a  cloth  of  silver.  She  then 
with  a  smile  presented  her  precious  gift  to 
Sintram,  who  was  bending  forward  to  re- 
ceive it,  when  suddenly  Gabrielle  drew  back, 
and  turning  to  Folko,  she  said:  ''Noble 
baron,  should  not  he  on  whom  I  bestow  a 
scarf  and  sword  be  first  admitted  into  the 
order  of  knighthood?"  Folko  sprang  up, 
and  bowing  low  before  his  lady,  gave  the 


AND    HIS    COMPANIONS.  89 

youth  the  accolade  with  solemn  earnestness. 
Then  Gabrielle  buckled  on  his  sword,  say- 
ing: "Take  this  for  the  honor  of  God  and 
the  service  of  noble  ladies,  young  knight. 
I  saw  you  fight,  I  saw  you  conquer,  and  my 
fervent  prayers  were  offered  up  for  you. 
Fight  and  conquer  often  again  as  you  have 
done  this  day,  that  the  fame  of  your  deeds 
may  be  wafted  even  to  my  far  distant  coun- 
try." And  at  a  sign  from  Folko,  she  offered 
her  cheek  for  the  new  knight  to  kiss.  Thrill- 
ing all  over,  and  full  of  a  holy  joy,  Sintram 
arose  in  deep  silence,  and  tears  streamed 
down  his  cheeks,  whilst  the  shout  of  the 
assembled  troops  greeted  the  enraptured 
youth  with  stunning  applause.  Old  Rolf 
stood  silently  on  one  side,  and  as  he  saw  the 
mild  beaming  expression  in  his  beloved  pu- 
pil's countenance,  he  calmly  and  piously  re- 
turned thanks.  "  The  strife  is  now  at  an 
end — rich  blessings  are  showered  down — 
the  evil  foe  is  slain." 

Biorn  and  Jarl  Eric  had  the  while  been 
talking  together  with  eagerness,  but  not  with 
animosity.  The  conqueror  now  led  his  van- 
quished enemy  up  the  hill,  and  presented 
him  to  the  baron  and  Gabrielle,  saying: 
"  Instead  of  two  enemies,  you  now  see  two 


90  S  I  N  T  R  A  II  , 

sworn  allies  ;  and  I  request  you,  my  beloved 
guests  and  kinsfolk,  to  receive  him  graciously 
as  one  who,  from  henceforward,  belongs  to 
us."  "  He  was  ever  one  with  you  in  heart," 
added  Eric,  smiling;  "  I  have  indeed  sought 
for  revenge  of  former  wrongs,  but  I  have 
now  had  enough  of  defeats  both  by  sea  and 
land.  Yet  I  thank  Heaven  that  neither  in 
the  Grecian  seas  nor  on  Ninung's  Heath 
have  I  shown  myself  wanting  in  valor." 
The  lord  of  Montfaucon  assented  cordially, 
and  the  terms  of  peace  were  agreed  on  with 
entire  good  will.  Jarl  Eric  then  addressed 
Gabrielle  in  so  courtly  a  manner  that  she 
could  not  refrain  from  looking  on  the  gigan- 
tic old  warrior  with  a  smile  of  astonishment, 
and  she  gave  him  her  hand  to  kiss. 

Meanwhile  Sintram  was  standing  apart, 
speaking  earnestly  to  his  good  Rolf,  and  at 
length  he  was  heard  to  say :  "  But  before 
all,  be  sure  that  you  bury  that  wonderfully 
brave  knight  whom  my  battle-axe  laid  low. 
Choose  out  the  greenest  hill  for  his  resting- 
place,  and  the  loftiest  oak  to  shade  his  grave. 
Also  I  wish  you  to  open  his  visor  and  to  ex- 
amine his  countenance  carefully,  lest  the 
blow  should  only  have  deprived  him  of  mo- 
tion, not  of  life  ;  and  moreover,  that  you  may 


AND    HIS    COMPANIONS.  91 

be  able  to  give  me  an  exact  description  of 
him  to  whom  I  owe  the  noblest,  most  pre- 
cions  prize  ever  adjudged  to  man." 

Rolf  departed  to  execute  his  orders.  "  Our 
young  knight  is  speaking  there  of  one 
amongst  the  slain,  of  whom  I  should  like  to- 
hear  more,"  said  Folko,  turning  to  Jarl  Eric. 
"Who  was  that  wonderful  chieftain  who 
rallied  your  troops  in  so  masterly  a  manner, 
and  who  at  last  fell  under  Sintram's  power- 
ful weapon?" 

"  You  ask  me  more  than  I  know  how  to 
answer,"  replied  Jarl  Eric.  "-About  three 
nights  ago,  this  stranger  made  his  appear- 
ance amongst  us.  I  was  sitting  with  my 
chieftains  and  warriors  round  the  hearth, 
forging  our  armor,  and  singing  the  while. 
Suddenly,  above  the  din  of  our  hammering 
and  our  singing,  we  heard  so  loud  a  noise 
that  it  silenced  us  in  a  moment,  and  we  sat 
motionless  as  if  we  had  been  turned  into 
stone.  The  sound  continued  equally  stun- 
ning, and  at  last  we  made  out  that  it  must 
be  caused  by  some  person  blowing  a  huge 
horn  outside  the  castle,  in  order  to  obtain 
admittance.  I  went  down  myself  to  the 
gate,  and  as  I  passed  through  the  court-yard 
I  perceived  that  all  my  dogs  were  so  terrified 


92  SlNTRAM, 

by  the  extraordinary  noise  as  to  be  howling 
and  crouching  in  their  kennels,  instead  of 
barking  at  the  intruders.  I  scolded  them, 
and  called  to  them,  but  even  the  fiercest 
would  not  follow  me.  '  Then,'  thought  I  to 
myself,  'I  must  show  you  the  way  to  set  to 
work ;'  so  I  grasped  my  sword  firmly,  I  set 
my  torch  on  the  ground  close  beside  me, 
and  I  let  the  gates  fly  open  without  further 
delay.  For  I  well  knew  that  it  would  be  no 
easy  matter  for  any  one  to  effect  an  entrance 
against  my  will.  A  loud  laugh  greeted  me, 
and  I  heard  these  words  :  '  Well,  well,  what 
mighty  preparations  are  these  before  one 
small  man  is  allowed  to  find  the  shelter  he 
seeks !'  And  in  truth  I  did  feel  myself  redden 
with  shame  when  I  saw  the  small  stranger 
standing  opposite  to  me,  quite  alone.  I 
called  to  him  to  come  in  at  once,  and  offered 
my  hand  to  him  ;  but  he  still  showed  some 
displeasure,  and  would  not  give  me  his  in 
return.  As  he  went  up,  however,  he  be- 
came more  friendly ;  he  showed  me  the 
golden  horn  on  which  he  sounded  that  blast, 
and  which  he  carried  screwed  on  his  helmet, 
as  well  as  another  exactly  like  it.  "When  he 
was  sitting  with  us  in  the  hall,  he  behaved 
in  a  very  strange  manner — sometimes  he  was 


A  \  D    HIS    COMPANIONS.  93 

merry,  sometimes  cross,  by  turns  courteous 
and  rude  in  his  demeanor,  without  any  one 
being  able  to  see  a  motive  for  such  constant 
change?.  I  longed  to  know  where  he  came 
from,  but  how  could  I  ask  my  guest  such  a 
question  1.  He  told  us  as  much  as  this,  that  he 
was  starved  with  cold  in  our  country,  and 
that  his  own  was  much  warmer.  Also  he 
appeared  well  acquainted  with  the  city  of 
Constantinople,  and  related  fearful  stories  of 
how  brothers,  uncles  and  nephews,  nay  even 
fathers  and  sons,  had  been  known  there,  to 
drive  each  other  from  the  throne,  and  to  ex- 
ercise such  cruelties  as  putting  out  eyes,  and 
cutting  out  tongues,  when  they  stopped 
short  of  murdering  their  opponents.  At 
length  he  said  his  own  name ;  it  sounded 
harmonious,  like  a  Greek  name,  but  none  of 
us  could  remember  it.  Before  long,  he  dis- 
played his  skill  as  an  armorer.  He  under- 
stood marvellously  well  how  to  handle  the 
red-hot  iron,  and  how  to  form  it  into  wea- 
pons of  a  more  murderous  nature  than  any 
I  had  ever  before  seen.  I  would  not  suffer 
him  to  go  on  making  them,  for  I  was  re- 
solved to  meet  you  in  the  field  with  such 
arms  only  as  you  would  yourselves  bear,  and 
as  we  are  all  u»ed  to  in  our  northern  coun- 


94  SlXTRAM, 

tries.  Then  he  langhed,  and  said  he  thought 
it  would  be  quite  possible  to  be  victorious 
without  their  aid,  provided  address  and  dex- 
terity were  not  wanting,  and  so  forth  ;  if  only 
I  would  intrust  the  command  of  my  infantry 
to  him,  I  might  depend  upon  success.  It 
occurred  to  me  that  he  who  was  so  skilled 
in  forging  arms  must  also  wield  them  well — 
yet  I  required  some  proof  of  his  powers.  Sir 
knight,  he  came  off  victorious  in  trials  of 
strength,  more  surprising  than  any  you  could 
imagine — and  although  the  fame  of  young 
Sintram  as  a  bold  and  brave  warrior  is 
spread  far  and  wide,  yet  I  can  scarce  believe 
that  he  really  succeeded  in  slaying  such  an 
one  as  my  Greek  ally  showed  himself  to  be." 

He  would  have  continued  speaking,  but 
the  good  Rolf  here  made  his  appearance 
hastening  towards  them,  followed  by  a  few 
attendants,  the  whole  party  looking  so 
ghastly  pale  that  all  eyes  were  involuntarily 
fixed  on  them,  and  every  one  waited  anx- 
iously to  hear  what  tidings  they  brought. 
Rolf  stood  still,  silent  and  trembling. 

"  Take  courage,  my  old  friend !"  cried 
Sintram.  "  Whatever  you  may  have  to  tell 
will  come  forth  clear  and  true  from  your 
honest  lips."  "  My  dear  master,"  began  the 


AND   HIS   COMPANIONS.  95 

old  man,  "  be  not  angry,  but  as  to  burying 
that  strange  warrior  whom  vou  slew,  it  is  a 

O  v  7 

tiling  impossible.  Would  that  we  had  never 
opened  that  wide,  hideous  visor!  For  so 
horrible  a  countenance  grinned  at  us  from 
underneath  it,  so  distorted  by  death,  and 
with  such  a  fiendish  expression,  that  we 
hardly  kept  our  senses.  We  could  not  by 
any  possibility  have  touched  him.  I  would 
rather  be  sent  to  kill  wolves  and  bears  in  the 
desert,  and  look  on  whilst  fierce  birds  of 
prey  feast  on  their  carcasses." 

All  present  shuddered,  and  were  silent — 
till  Sintram  nerved  himself  to  say :  "  Dear 
good  old  man,  why  use  such  wild  words  as  I 
never  till  now  heard  you  utter?  But  tell 
me,  Jarl  Eric,  did  your  ally  present  such  an 
awful  appearance  while  he  was  yet  alive  ?" 

"  I  do  not  call  it  to  mind,"  answered  Jarl 
Eric,  looking  inquiringly  at  his  companions 
who  were  standing  around.  They  said  the 
same  thing  as  their  lord ;  but  on  further 
questioning,  it  appeared  that  neither  the 
chieftain,  nor  the  knights,  nor  the  soldiers, 
could  say  exactly  what  the  stranger  was 
like. 

"  We  must  then  find  it  out  for  ourselves, 
and  bury  the  corpse,"  said  Sintram ;  and  he 


96  SlNTRAM, 

signed  to  the  assembled  party  to  follow  him. 
All  did  so,  except  the  lord  of  Montfaugon, 
whom  the  whispered  entreaty  of  Gabrielle 
kept  at  her  side.  He  lost  nothing  by  re- 
maining behind  :  for  though  Niflung's  Heath 
was  searched  from  one  end  to  the  other  many 
times,  yet  the  body  of  the  unknown  warrior 
was  never  again  discovered. 


AND   HIS   COMPANIONS.  97 


CHAPTER    XI. 

joy  and  serenity  which  came  over 
Sintram's  soul  on  this  day  appeared  to 
be  much  more  than  a  passing  gleam.  If  still 
an  occasional  thought  of  the  knight  Paris 
and  the  fair  Helen  would  for  a  moment  make 
his  heart  beat  wildly,  it  needed  but  one  look 
at  his  scarf  and  sword  to  restore  calmness 
within.  "  What  can  any  man  wish  for  more 
than  has  been  already  bestowed  on  me?" 
would  he  say  to  himself  at  such  times,  in 
deep  emotion.  And  thus  it  went  on  for  a 
long  while. 

The  autumn,  so  beautiful  in  those  northern 
climes,  had  already  begun  to  redden  the 
leaves  of  the  old  oaks  and  elms  round  the 
castle,  when  one  day  it  chanced  that  Sintram 
found  himself  seated  in  company  with  Folko 
and  Gabrielle,  in  almost  the  very  same  spot 
in  the  garden  where  he  had  before  met  that 
mysterious  being  whom  without  knowing 
why,  he  had  named  the  Little  Master.  But 
on  this  day  in  what  a  different  light  did 
every  thing  appear !  The  sun  was  sinking 


9R  SiNTRAM, 

slowly  over  the  sea, — the  mist  of  an  autum- 
nal evening  was  rising  from  the  fields,  and 
wreathing  itself  round  the  hill  on  which 
stood  the  huge  castle.  Gabrielle,  placing  her 
lute  in  Sintram's  hands,  said  to  him  :  "  Dear 
youth,  I  no  longer  fear  intrusting  my  deli- 
cate favorite  to  you,  now  that  you  are  become 
so  mild  and  gentle.  Let  me  again  hear  you 
sing  that  lay  of  the  land  of  flowers,  for  I  am 
sure  that  it  will  now  sound  much  sweeter 
than  when  you  accompanied  it  with  the  vi- 
brations of  your  fearful  harp." 

The  young  knight  bowed  as  he  prepared 
to  obey  the  lady's  commands.  With  a  grace 
and  softness  hitherto  strangers  to  him,  the 
wild  strains  flowed  from  his  lips,  and  ap- 
peared to  lose  their  former  character,  and  to 
change  into  harmony  to  which  angels  might 
have  listened.  Tears  stood  in  Gabrielle's 
eyes ;  and  Sintram,  as  he  gazed  on  the  bright 
pearly  drops,  poured  forth  tones  of  yet  richer 
sweetness.  When  the  last  notes  were  sound- 
ed, Gabrielle's  angelic  voice  was  heard  to 
echo  them,  and  as  she  repeated 

"  Sing  heigh,  sing  ho,  for  that  land  of  flowers," 

Sintram  put  down  the  lute,  and  raised  his 
thankful  eyes  towards  the  stars,  which  were 


AND    HIS    COMPANIONS.  99 

now  stealing  out  and  studding  the  whole  face 
of  the  sky.  Then  Gabrielle,  turning  towards 
her  lord,  murmured  these  words :  "  Oh,  how 
long  have  we  been  wandering  far  away  from 
our  own  sunny  hills  and  bright  gardens !  Oh ! 
for  that  land  of  the  sweetest  flowers !" 

Sintram  could  scarcely  believe  that  he 
heard  aright,  so  suddenly  did  he  feel  himself 
as  if  shut  out  from  paradise.  But  his  faint 
hopes  of  being  mistaken  were  crushed  by  the 
assurance  of  Folko,  that  he  would  endeavor 
to  fulfil  his  lady's  wishes  with  all  possible 
speed,  and  that  their  ship  was  lying  off  the 
shore  ready  to  put  to  sea.  She  thanked  him 
with  a  kiss  imprinted  softly  on  his  forehead ; 
and  leaning  on  his  arm  she  bent  her  steps 
towards  the  castle. 

The  wretched  Sintram,  neglected  and  for- 
gotten, remained  behind,  motionless  as  if  he 
had  been  turned  to  stone.  At  length,  when 
the  darkness  of  night  had  spread  itself  over 
the  whole  sky,  he  started  up  wildly,  ran  up 
and  down  the  garden  as  if  all  his  fornier 
madness  had  taken  possession  of  him,  and 
then  rushed  out,  and  wandered  upon  the 
hills  in  the  pale  moonlight.  There  he  dashed 
his  sword  against  the  trees  and  bushes,  so 
that  all  around  was  heard  a  sound  of  crash- 


100  SlXTR AM, 

ing  and  falling,  the  birds  of  night  flew  about 
him  screeching  in  wild  alarm,  and  the  deer, 
startled  by  the  noise,  sprung  away  to  take 
refuge  in  the  thickest  coverts. 

On  a  sudden  old  Rolf  appeared,  returning 
home  from  a  visit  to  the  chaplain  of  Dron- 
theim,  to  whom  he  had  been  relating  with 
tears  of  joy,  how  Sin  tram  was  subdued  by 
Gabrielle's  mild  influence,  and  how  they 
might  venture  to  hope  that  his  evil  dreams 
would  never  again  disturb  his  mind.  And 
now  the  sword  of  the  furious  youth  had  well- 
nigh  wounded  the  old  man  in  some  of  its 
fearful  thrusts  to  right  and  left.  He  stopped 
short,  and,  clasping  his  hands,  he  said  with 
a  deep  sigh :  "  Alas,  my  beloved  Sintram, 
my  foster-child !  what  madness  has  seized 
you,  and  made  you  thus  wild  and  frantic  ?" 

The  youth  stood  awhile  as  if  spell-bound, 
he  looked  in  his  old  friend's  face  with  a  fixed 
and  melancholy  gaze,  and  his  eyes  became 
dim,  like  expiring  watch-fires  seen  through  a 
thick  cloud  of  mist.  At  length  he  sighed 
forth  these  words,  almost  inaudibly :  "  Good 
Rolf,  good  Rolf,  depart  from  me!  I  have 
been  cast  out  of  your  garden  of  delight :  and 
if  sometimes  a  light  breese  blows  open  its 
golden  gates,  so  that  I  can  look  in  and  see 


AND    HIS    COMPANIONS.  101 

the  sunny  spot  where  heavenly  inhabitants 
wander  to  and  fro,  then  immediately  a  cruel 
cutting  wind  arises,  which  shuts  to  the  gates, 
and  I  remain  without,  to  pass  a  never  ending 
winter  in  cheerless  desolation." 

"  Beloved  young  knight,  oh  !  listen  to  me ; 
listen  to  the  voice  of  the  good  Spirit  within 
you !  Do  you  not  bear  in  your  hand  that 
very  sword  which  the  bright  lady  you  serve 
girded  you  with  ?  Does  not  her  scarf  wave 
over  your  wildly  beating  heart?  Do  you 
not  recollect  how  you  used  to  say  that  no 
mortal  could  wish  for  more  than  had  been 
bestowed  on  yourself?" 

"Yes,  Rolf,  I  have  said  that,"  replied 
Sintram,  sinking  on  the  mossy  turf,  drowned 
in  bitter  tears.  The  old  man  wept  also. 
Before  long  the  youth  stood  again  erect,  his 
tears  ceased  to  flow,  his  countenance  assumed 
a  cold  terrible  expression,  and  he  said : 
"  You  see,  Rolf,  I  have  passed  such  blessed 
peaceful  days,  and  I  thought  within  myself 
that  the  powers  of  evil  would  never  again 
have  dominion  over  me.  So,  perchance,  it 
might  have  been,  just  as  much  as  daylight 
would  always  last  were  the  sun  never  to  go 
below  the  horizon.  But  ask  the  poor  be- 
nighted earth,  wherefore  she  looks  so  dull 
9* 


102  Si  XT  RAM, 

and  dark !  Bid  her  again  smile  as  she  was 
wont  to  do !  Old  man,  she  cannot  smile ; — 
and  now  that  the  gentle  compassionate  moon 
has  disappeared  behind  the  clouds  with  her 
sadly-soothing  funeral  veil,  she  cannot  even 
weep.  And  in  this  hour  of  darkness,  all  that 
is  wild  and  awful  wakes  up  into  life !  So  do 
not  stop  me,  I  tell  thee,  do  not  stop  me ! 
Hurrah !  I  am  rushing  behind  the  pale 
moon!"  His  voice  changed  to  a  hoarse 
murmur  at  these  last  words.  He  tore  away 
from  the  trembling  old  man,  and  rushed 
through  the  forest.  Rolf  knelt  down,  and 
prayed  and  wept  silently. 


AND    HIS    COMPANIONS.  103 


CHAPTER   XII. 

WHEKE  tlie  sea-beach  was  wildest,  and 
the  cliffs  most  steep  and  rugged,  and 
close  by  the  remains  of  three  shattered  oaks, 
which  probably  marked  a  place  where,  in 
darker  times,  human  victims  had  been  sacri- 
ficed, now  stood  Sintram,  leaning,  as  if  ex- 
hausted, on  his  drawn  sword,  and  gazing 
intently  on  the  dancing  waves.  The  moon 
had  again  shone  forth,  and  as  her  pale  beams 
fell  on  his  motionless  figure  through  the 
quivering  branches  of  the  trees,,  he  might 
have  been  taken  for  some  fearful  idol  image. 
Suddenly  some  one,  hitherto  unnoticed  by 
him,  half-raised  himself  out  of  the  withered 
grass,  uttered  a  faint  groan,  and  again  lay 
down.  This  marvellous  conversation  then 
arose  between  the  two : 

"Thou  that  movest  thyself  so  strangely 
amid  the  grass,  dost  thou  belong  to  the  liv- 
ing or  to  the  dead  ?" 

"  That  is  as  you  may  choose  to  take  it.  I 
am  dead  to  heaven  and  joy — I  live  for  hell 
and  anguish." 


104  SlXTRAM, 

"  I  could  fancy  that  I  had  already  heard 
thee  speak." 

"  Oh,  yes,  thou  surely  hast." 

"Art  thou  a  troabled  spirit?  and  was 
thy  life-blood  poured  out  here  in  ancient 
times  ?" 

"  I  am  a  troubled  spirit ; — but  no  man 
ever  has,  or  ever  can  shed  my  blood.  I  have 
been  cast  down — oh  !  into  a  frightful  abyss  1" 

"  And  wert  thou  killed  by  the  fall  ?" 

"  I  am  living  now, — and  I  shall  live  longer 
than  thou." 

"  I  could  almost  fancy  that  thou  wert  the 
crazy  pilgrim  with  the  dead  men's  bones 
hanging  about  him." 

"  I  am  not  he,  although  we  often  consort 
together, — and,  indeed,  in  the  most  friendly 
manner.  But,  to  let  you  into  a  secret,  he 
considers  me  to  be  mad.  If  I  sometimes 
urge  him,  and  say  to  him,  '  Take !' — then  he 
hesitates,  and  points  upwards  towards  the 
stars.  And,  again,  if  I  say,  '  Take  not !' — 
then,  to  a  certainty,  he  seizes  on  it  in  some 
awkward  manner,  and  so  he  spoils  my  best 
joys  and  pleasures.  But,  in  spite  of  all  this, 
we  remain  as  before,  bound  by  a  close 
alliance,  and  even  by  a  degree  of  relation- 
ship." 


AND   HIS   COMPANIONS.  105 

"  Give  me  thy  hand,  and  let  me  help  thee 


up." 

"  Ho,  ho,  m j  active  young  sir,  that  might 
bring  you  no  good.  Yet,  in  fact,  you  have 
already  helped  to  raise  me.  Give  heed  to 
•what  is  going  on  around." 

The  movements  of  Sintram's  unknown 
companion  seemed  to  become  stranger  each 
minute ;  thick  clouds  swept  wildly  over  the 
moon  and  the  stars,  and  Sintram's  thoughts 
grew  no  less  wild  and  stormy,  while  far  and 
near  an  awful  howling  could  be  heard  amidst 
the  trees  and  the  grass.  At  length  the  mys- 
terious being  arose  from  the  ground.  As  if 
to  gratify  a  i'earful  curiosity,  the  moon  looked 
out  from  behind  a  cloud,  and  the  sudden 
gleam  of  light  showed  the  horror-stricken 
Sintram  that  his  companion  was  none  other 
than  the  Little  Master. 

"Avaunt!"  cried  he,  "I  will  listen  no 
more  to  your  evil  stories  about  the  knight 
Paris.  They  would  end  by  driving  me 
quite  mad." 

'•  My  stories  about  Paris  are  not  needed 
for  that !"  grinned  the  Little  Master.  "  It  is 
enough  that  the  Helen  of  your  affections 
should  be  journeying  towards  Montfaugon. 
Believe  me,  madness  has  already  taken  pos- 


106  SIN  TRAM, 

session  of  every  part  of  you.  But  what 
should  you  say  were  she  to  remain?  For 
that,  however,  you  must  show  me  moro 
courtesy  than  you  hare  of  late."  Therewith 
he  raised  his  voice  towards  the  sea,  as  if 
fiercely  rebuking  it,  so  that  Sintram  could 
not  keep  from  shuddering  and  trembling 
before  the  hideous  dwarf.  But  he  checked 
himself,  and  grasping  his  sword-hilt  with 
both  hands,  he  said  contemptuously,  "  You 
and  Gabrielle !  what  acquaintance  do  you 
pretend  to  have  with  Gabrielle  ?" 

"  Not  much,"  was  the  reply.  And  the 
Little  Master  might  be  seen  to  quake  with 
fear  and  rage,  as  he  continued,  "  I  cannot 
well  bear  to  hear  the  name  of  your  Helen  ; 
do  not  din  it  in  my  ears  ten  times  in  a 
breath.  But,  if  the  tempest  should  increase 
— if  the  foaming  waves  should  swell,  and 
roll  on  till  they  form  an  impenetrable  barrier 
rcund  the  whole  coast  of  Norway?  The 
voyage  to  Montfaucon  must,  in  that  case,  be 
altogether  given  up,  and  your  Helen  would 
remain  here  at  least  through  the  long,  long, 
dark  winter !" 

"If!  if!"  replied  Sintram,  with  scorn. 
"  Is  the  sea  your  bond-slave  ?  Are  tempests 
obedient  to  you  ?" 


AKD    HIS    COMPANIONS.  107 

"  They  are  rebels,  accursed  rebels,"  mut- 
tered the  Little  Master.  "You  must  lend 
me  your  aid,  Sir  Knight,  if  I  am  to  subdue 
them ;  but  you  have  not  the  heart  for  such  a 
service." 

"Boaster,  evil  boaster!"  answered  the 
youth.  "What  is  it  that  you  require  of 
me?" 

"  It  is  not  much,  Sir  Knight,  nothing  at 
all  for  one  who  has  strength  and  ardor  of 
soul.  You  need  only  look  at  the  sea  steadily 
for  one  half-hour,  without  ever  ceasing  to 
wish  intensely  that  it  should  foam  and  rage 
and  swell,  and  never  again  become  quiet 
until  winter  has  laid  its  icy  hold  upon  your 
mountains.  Then  king  Menelaus  will  be 
effectually  prevented  from  undertaking  a 
voyage  to  Montfaugon.  And  now  give  me 
a  lock  of  your  black  hair,  which  is  blowing 
so  wildly  about  your  head,  looking  like 
ravens'  or  vultures'  wings." 

The  youth  drew  his  sharp  dagger,  madly 
cut  off  a  lock  of  his  hair,  threw  it  to  the 
strange  being,  and,  according  to  his  direc- 
tions, began  gazing  on  the  sea,  and  wishing 
ardently  that  a  storm  should  arise.  And 
soon  the  water  began  to  be  slightly  agitated 
with  a  motion  almost  as  imperceptible  as 


108  S  I  N  T  R  A  if  , 

the  murmuring  of  one  disturbed  by  uneasy 
dreams,  who  would  gladly  be  at  rest  and  yet 
cannot.  Sintram  was  on  the  point  of  giving 
up,  when  the  moonbeams  fell  on  the  white 
sails  of  a  ship  which  was  going  rapidly  in  a 
southerly  direction.  A  pang  shot  through 
his  heart,  as  he  was  thus  forcibly  reminded 
of  Gabrielle's  departure;  he  wished  again 
with  all  his  power,  and  fixed  his  eyes  in- 
tently on  the  watery  expanse.  "Sintram," 
a  voice  might  have  said  to  him,  "  ah !  Sin- 
tram,  can  you  be  indeed  the  very  same  who 
but  so  lately  was  gazing  in  deep  emotion  on 
the  tearful  eyes  of  Gabrielle  ?" 

And  now  the  waves  were  seen  to  heave 
and  swell,  and  the  howling  tempest  swept 
over  the  ocean  ;  the  breakers,  white  with 
foam,  became  visible  in  the  moonlight.  Then 
the  Little  Master  threw  the  lock  of  Sintram's 
hair  up  towards  the  clouds,  and  as  it  was 
blown  to  and  fro  by  the  blast  of  wind,  the 
storm  burst  in  all  its  fury,  so  that  sea  and 
sky  were  covered  with  one  thick  cloud,  and 
far  off  might  be  heard  the  cries  of  "distress 
from  many  a  sinking  vessel. 

Just  then  the  crazy  pilgrim  with  the  dead- 
men's  bones  rose  up  in  the  midst  of  the 
waves,  close  to  the  shore;  his  height  ap- 


AND     HIS     C  0  M  P  A  X  I  0  N  S  .  1 0'J 

peared  gigantic  as  lie  rocked  to  and  fro  in  a 
fearful  manner ;  the  boat  in  which  he  was 
standing  was  entirely  hid  from  sight  by  the 
raging  waves  which  rose  all  around  it. 

"  You  must  save  him,  Little  Master,  you 
must  anyhow  save  him,"  cried  Sintram,  his 
voice  rising  in  a  tone  of  angry  entreaty 
above  the  roaring  of  the  winds  and  waves — 
but  the  dwarf  replied  with  a  laugh :  "  Be 
quite  at  ease  on  his  account,  he  will  be  able 
to  save  himself.  The  waves  can  do  him  no 
harm.  Do  you  see  ?  They  are  only  begging 
of  him,  and  therefore  they  jump  up  so  boldly 
round  him.  And  he  gives  them  bountiful 
alms ;  very  bountiful,  that  I  can  assure 
you." 

Accordingly  the  pilgrim  was  seen  to  throw 
some  bones  in  the  sea,  and  to  pass  on  his 
way  without  suffering  damage.  Sintram  felt 
his  blood  run  cold  with  horror,  and  he  rushed 
wildly  towards  the  castle.  His  companion 
had  either  fled  or  vanished  away. 
10 


110  SlNTRAM, 


CHAPTER    XIII. 

BIOKN"  and  Gabrielle  and  Folko  of  Mont- 
faucon  were  sitting  round  the  great 
stone  table,  from  which,  since  the  arrival  of 
his  noble  guests,  the  lord  of  the  castle  had 
caused  those  suits  of  armor  to  be  removed 
that  formerly  had  been  his  companions — 
they  were  placed  all  together  in  a  heap  in 
one  of  the  adjoining  apartments.  At  this 
time,  while  the  storm  was  beating  so  furi- 
ously against  doors  and  windows,  it  seemed 
as  if  the  ancient  armor  were  also  stirring  in 
the  next  room,  and  Gabrielle  several  times 
half  rose  from  her  seat  in  great  alarm,  fixing 
her  eyes  on  the  small  iron  door,  as  though 
she  expected  to  see  an  armed  spectre  issue 
therefrom,  bending  down  his  plumed  helmet 
as  he  passed  underneath  the  low  vaulted 
door-way.  The  knight  Biorn  smiled  grimly, 
and  said,  as  if  reading  her  thoughts :  "  Oh  ! 
he  will  never  again  come  out  thence,  I  have 
put  an  end  to  that  forever."  His  guests 
looked  at  him  inquiringly,  as  if  anxious  to 
understand  his  meaning ;  and  with  a  strange 


AND    HIS    COMPANIONS.  Ill 

air  of  unconcern,  as  though  the  storm  had 
awakened  all  the  fierceness  of  his  soul,  he 
began  the  following  history : 

•'  I  was  once  a  happy  man  myself ;  I  could 
smile,  as  you  do — and  I  could  rejoice  in  the 
clear  morning  air,  as  you  do ;  that  was  be- 
fjre  the  hypocritical  chaplain  had  so  worked 
on  the  pious  scruples  of  my  lovely  wife,  as 
to  induce  her  to  shut  herself  up  in  her 
cloister,  and  leave  me  alone  with  my  un- 
governable child.  That  was  not  fair  usage 
on  the  part  of  the  fair  Verena.  "Well,  so  it 
was,  that  in  the  first  days  of  her  dawning 
beauty,  before  I  knew  her,  many  knights 
sought  her  hand,  amongst  whom  was  Sir 
"Weigand  the  Slender ;  and  towards  him  the 
gentle  maiden  showed  herself  the  most  fa- 
vorably inclined.  Her  parents  were  well 
aware  that  Weigand's  rank  and  station  were 
little  below  their  own,  and  that  his  fame  as 
a  warrior  without  reproach  promised  to  stand 
high ;  so  that  before  long  it  was  generally 
known  that  Verena  and  he  were  betrothed 
to  each  other. 

It  happened  one  day  that  they  were  walk- 
ing together  in  the  garden  of  her  father's 
castle,  at  the  time  when  a  shepherd  was  driv- 
ing his  flock  up  the  mountain  beyond.  The 


112  SlNTRAM, 

maiden  took  a  fancy  to  a  little  snow-white 
lamb  which  she  saw  frolicking  about,  and 
wished  to  have  it.  Weigand  flew  out  of  the 
garden,  overtook  the  shepherd,  and  offered 
him  two  pieces  of  gold  for  the  lamb.  But 
the  shepherd  would  not  part  with  it,  and 
scarcely  listened  to  the  knight,  going  quietly 
the  while  up  the  mountain  side.  Weigand 
persevered,  but  failing  in  his  attempts  he 
lost  patience,  and  at  last  uttered  some  threat. 
The  shepherd,  who  was  not  wanting  in  the 
pride  and  stubbornness  of  all  our  northern 
peasants,  threatened  in  return.  Suddenly 
Weigand 'a  sword  glittered  above  his  head — 
the  stroke  should  have  fallen  lightly — but 
who  can  control  a  fiery  horse,  or  an  angry 
warrior's  arm  ?  The  shepherd's  head  seemed 
cleft  asunder  by  the  blow  ;  he  rolled  bathed 
in  blood  down  to  the  very  bottom  of  the 
precipice — his  terrified  flock  dispersed  on 
the  mountains.  The  little  lamb  alone  took 
refuge  in  the  garden,  and,  all  sprinkled  with 
its  master's  blood,  it  laid  itself  down  at  Ye- 
rena's  feet,  as  if  asking  for  protection.  She 
took  it  up  in  her  arms,  and  from  that  mo- 
ment never  suffered  Weiga'nd  to  appear 
again  in  her  presence.  She  continued  to 
cherish  the  little  lamb,  a;:d  seemed  to  take 


AND    HIS   COMPANIONS.  113 

pleasure  in  nothing  else  in  the  world,  while 
she  became  each  day  more  and  more  pale, 
like  the  lilies,  and  her  every  thought  was 
devoted  to  Heaven.  She  would  soon  have 
taken  the  veil,  but  just  then  I  came  to  aid 
her  father  in  a  war  in  which  he  was  engaged, 
and  saved  him  from  his  too  powerful  ene- 
mies. As  a  reward  of  my  services,  he  pre- 
vailed on  his  daughter  to  give  me  her  fair 
hand.  The  overwhelming  weight  of  his 
affliction  would  not  suffer  the  unhappy  Wei- 
gand  to  remain  in  his  own  country  ;  he  went 
as  a  pilgrim  to  Asia,  whence  our  forefathers 
came ;  and  there  he  performed  wondrous 
deeds  of  valor,  not  omitting  acts  of  humili- 
ation and  penitence.  I  could  not  hear  him 
spoken  of  in  those  days  without  my  heart 
being  strangely  moved  with  compassion. 
Years  rolled  by,  and  he  returned,  meaning 
to  erect  a  church  or  monastery  on  that  moun- 
tain, towards  the  west,  whence  the  walls  of 
my  castle  are  distinctly  seen.  It  was  said 
that  he  wished  to  become  a  priest  there,  but 
it  fell  out  otherwise.  For  some  pirates  hav- 
ing sailed  from  the  southern  seas  towards 
our  coasts,  and  having  heard  mention  made 
of  this  monastery  which  was  in  progress, 
their  chief  hoped  to  find  much  gold  in  the 
10* 


114  SlXTRAM, 

possession  of  those  who  were  buildinglt,  or 
to  get  a  large  ransom  for  them,  if  he  should 
succeed  in  surprising  them  and  carrying 
them  off.  He  could  not  have  known  much 
about  the  valor  of  northern  warriors !  How- 
ever, he  soon  arrived,  and  having  landed  in 
the  creek  under  the  black  rocks,  he  led  his 
men  through  a  by-path  up  to  the  building, 
surrounded  it,  and  thought  in  himself  that 
the  game  was  now  in  his  hands.  Ha!  then 
out  rushed  Weigand  and  his  builders,  and 
fell  upon  them  with  swords,  and  hatchets, 
and  hammers.  The  heathens  fled  away  to 
their  ships,  closely  pursued  by  Weigand. 
In  passing  by  our  castle  he  caught  a  sight 
of  Yerena  on  the  terrace,  and,  for  the  first 
time  during  so  many  years,  she  bestowed  a 
courteous  and  kind  salutation  on  the  victor- 
ious warrior.  At  that  moment  a  dagger, 
hurled  by  one  of  the  pirates  in  the  midst  of 
his  hasty  flight,  struck  Weigand's  uncovered 
head,  and  he  fell  to  the  ground  bleeding  and 
insensible.  We  completed  the  rout  of  the 
heathens ;  then  I  directed  the  wounded 
knight  to  be  brought  into  the  castle;  and 
my  Yerena's  pale  cheeks  glowed  as  lilies  do 
in  the  light  of  the  morning  sun,  and  Weigand 
opened  his  eyes  with  a  smile  when  he  was 


AND    HIS    COMPANIONS.  115 

brought  near  her.     He  refused  to  be  taken 
into  any  room  but  the  small  one  close  to  this,, 
where  the  armor  is  now  placed  ;  for  he  said, 
that  he  felt  as  if  it  were  a  cell  like  that  which 
he  hoped  soon  to  inhabit  in  the  quiet  cloister- 
he  was  erecting.     All  was  done  conformably 
to  his  desire;  my  sweet  Yerena  nursed  him,, 
and  he  appeared  at  first  to  be  advancing  fa- 
vorably towards  recovery,  but  his  head  con- 
tinued weak,  and  liable  to  be  confused  by 
the  slightest  emotion — his  steps  were  falter- 
ing, and  his  cheeks  colorless.     We  would 
not  suffer  him  to  depart.     When  we  were 
sitting  here  together  in  the  evening,  he  used, 
always  to  come  tottering  into  the  hall  through 
the  lower  doorway ;  and  my  heart  was  sad, 
and  wrathful  too,  when  the  soft  eyes  of  Ye- 
reiia  beamed  so  sweetly  on  him,  and  a  glow 
like  that  of  the  evening  sky  lighted  up  her 
pale  countenance.     But  I  bore  it,  and  I  could; 
have  borne  it  to   the  end  of  our  lives — 
when,   alas!  Yerena  shut  herself  up  in.  a 
cloister !" 

His  head  fell  so  heavily  on  his  folded: 
hands  that  the  stone  table  groaned  under  it, 
and  he  remained  a  long  while  motionless  as 
a  corpse.    When  he  again  raised  himself  up, 
his  eyes  glared  as  he  looked  round  the  hall, 


116  SlNTRAM, 

and  he  said  to  Folko,  "  Your  beloved  Ham- 
burghers,  Gotthard  Lentz,  and  Rudlieb  his 
son,  they  have  much  to  answer  for !  Who 
bid  them  come  and  be  shipwrecked  so  close 
to  my  castle  ?" 

Folko  cast  a  piercing  look  on  him,  and  a 
fearful  inquiry  was  on  the  point  of  escaping 
his  lips,  but  another  look  at  the  trembling 
Gabrielle  caused  him  to  refrain,  at  least  for 
the  present  moment,  and  the  knight  Biorn 
continued  his  narrative — 

"  Yerena  was  with  her  nuns,  I  was  left 
alone,  and  my  despair  had  driven  me  to  the 
mountains  and  the  forest  during  the  whole 
day.  Towards  evening  I  returned  to  my 
deserted  castle,  and  scarcely  was  I  in  the 
hall,  when  the  little  door  creaked  on  its 
hinges,  and  "Weigand,  who  had  slept  through 
all,  crept  towards  me  and  asked,  'Where 
can  Yerena  be?'  Then  I  became  like  one 
out  of  his  senses,  and  I  shouted,  '  She  is  gone 
mad,  and  so  am  I,  and  you  also,  and  now  we 
are  all  mad !'  Merciful  Heaven !  the  wound 
on  his  head  burst  open,  and  a  dark  red  stream 
flowed  over  his  face — alas!  how  different 
from  the  redness  which  overspread  it  when 
Yerena  met  him  at  the  castle  gate — and  he 
rushed  forth,  raving  mad,  into  the  wilder- 


AND   HIS   COMPANIONS.  117 

ness  without,  and  ever  since  has  wandered 
all  around,  as  a  crazy  pilgrim." 

He  was  silent,  and  so  were  Folko  and 
Gabrielle — all  three  pale  and  cold,  like 
images  of  the  dead.  At  length  the  fearful 
narrator  added  in  a  low  voice,  and  as  if  he 
were  quite  exhausted,  "He  has  visited  me 
since  that  time,  but  he  will  never  again  come 
through  the  low  door-way.  Have  I  not  estab- 
lished peace  and  order  in  my  castle  ?" 


118  SlNTRAM, 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

SlNTRAM  had  not  returned  home,  when 
the  inhabitants  of  the  castle  betook 
themselves  to  rest  in  great  disturbance  of 
mind.  No  one  thought  of  him,  for  every 
heart  was  filled  with  strange  forebodings 
of  evil,  and  with  undefined  anxiety.  Even 
the  firm  heroic  spirit  of  the  knight  of 
Montfau9on  did  not  escape  the  general  agi- 
tation. 

Old  Rolf  still  remained  without,  weeping 
in  the  forest,  heedless  of  the  storm  which 
beat  on  his  unprotected  head,  while  he  waited 
for  his  young  master.  But  he  had  gone  a 
very  different  way ;  and  when  the  morning 
dawned,  he  entered  the  castle  from  the  op- 
posite side. 

Gabrielle's  slumbers  had  been  but  too 
sweet  during  the  whole  night.  It  had 
seemed  to  her  that  angels  with  golden  wings 
had  blown  away  the  wild  histories  she  had 
listened  to  the  evening  before,  and  had 
wafted  to  her  the  bright  flowers,  the  spark- 
ling sea,  and  the  green  hills  of  her  own  home. 


AND    HIS    COMPANIONS.  119 

She  smiled,  and  drew  her  breath  calmly  and 
softly,  whilst  the  supernatural  tempest  raged 
and  howled  through  the  forests,  and  kept  up 
a  fearful  conflict  with  the  troubled  sea.  But, 
in  truth,  when  she  awoke  in  the  morning, 
and  heard  the  crashing  of  the  storm  still  con- 
tinuing, and  saw  the  clouds  still  hiding  the 
face  of  the  heavens,  she  could  have  wept  for 
anxiety  and  sadness,  especially  when  she 
heard  from  her  maidens  that  Folko  had 
already  left  their  apartment  clad  in  full 
armor  as  if  prepared  for  a  combat.  At  the 
same  time  she  could  distinguish  the  sound  of 
the  heavy  tread  of  armed  men  in  the  echoing 
halls,  and,  on  inquiring,  found  that  the 
knight  of  Montfaucon  had  assembled  all  his 
retainers  to  be  in  readiness  to  protect  their 
lady. 

Wrapped  in  a  cloak  of  ermine,  she  stood 
trembling  like  a  tender  flower  which  has  just 
sprung  up  out  of  the  snow,  and  is  exposed  to 
the  rude  blasts  of  a  winter's  storm.  At  that 
moment  Sir  Folko  entered  the  room,  arrayed 
in  his  brilliant  armor,  and  in  peaceful  guise 
carrying  his  golden  helmet,  with  the  long 
shadowy  plumes,  in  his  hand.  He  saluted 
Gabrielle  with  an  air  of  cheerful  serenity, 
and,  at  a  sign  from  him,  his  attendants  re^ 


120  SlNTRAM, 

tired — tlie  men-at-arms  without  were  heard 
quietly  dispersing. 

"  Lady,"  said  he,  as  he  took  his  seat  beside 
her  on  a  couch  to  which  he  led  her,  al- 
ready re-assured  by  his  presence;  "Lady, 
will  you  forgive  your  knight  for  having  left 
you  to  endure  some  moments  of  anxiety, 
whilst  he  was  obeying  the  call  of  honor  and 
the  stern  voice  of  duty.  Now  all  is  set  in 
order,  quietly  and  peacefully ;  dismiss  your 
fears  and  every  thought  that  has  troubled 
you,  as  things  that  have  no  longer  any  ex- 
istence." 

"  But  you  and  Biorn  ?"  asked  Gabrielle. 

"  On  the  word  of  a  knight,"  replied  he, 
"  all  is  as  it  should  be."  And  thereupon  he 
began  to  talk  over  indifferent  subjects  with 
his  usual  ease  and  vivacity ;  but  Gabrielle, 
bending  towards  him,  said,  with  deep  emotion : 

"  Oh,  Folko,  my  knight,  the  guiding  star  of 
my  life,  my  protector,  and  my  dearest  hope 
on  earth,  tell  me  all,  if  you  may.  If  you 
are  bound  by  a  promise  to  keep  any  thing 
secret,  I  ask  no  more.  You  know  that  I  am 
of  the  race  of  Portamour,  and  I  would  ask 
nothing  from  my  knight  which  could  cast 
even  a  breath  of  suspicion  on  his  spotless 
shield." 


AND    HIS    COMPANIONS.  121 

Folko  thought  gravely  for  one  instant, 
then  looking  at  her  with  a  bright  smile,  he 
said :  "  It  is  not  that,  Gabrielle,  but  can  you 
bear  what  I  have  to  disclose  ?  Will  you  not 
sink  down  at  the  tidings,  as  a  slender  fir 
gives  way  under  a  mass  of  snow  ?" 

She  raised  herself  with  a  somewhat  proud 
air,  and  said:  "I  have  already  reminded 
you  of  the  name  of  my  father's  house.  Let 
me  now  add  that  I  am  the  wedded  wife  of 
the  baron  of  Montfaucon." 

"  Then  so  let  it  be,"  replied  Folko  solemn- 
ly ;  "  and  if  that  must  come  forth  openly 
which  should  ever  have  remained  hidden  in 
the  darkness  which  belongs  to  such  deeds  of 
wickedness,  at  least  the  horror  of  longer  ex- 
pectation shall  not  be  added  to  it.  Know 
then,  Gabrielle,  that  the  wicked  knight  who 
attempted  the  destruction  of  my  friends 
Gotthard  and  Rudlieb,  is  none  other  than 
our  kinsman  and  host,  Biorn  of  the  Fiery 
Eyes." 

Gabrielle  shuddered  and  covered  her  eyes 
with  her  fair  hands;  but  at  the  end  of  a 
moment  she  looked  up  with  a  bewildered 
air,  and  said : .  "  I  have  heard  wrong  surely, 
although  it  is  true  that  yesterday  evening 
such  a  thought  flashed  across  my  mind.  For 
11 


122  SIN  TRAM, 

did  you  not  say  awhile  ago  that  all  was  set- 
tled and  at  peace  between  you  and  Biorn  ? 
Between  the  brave  baron  and  such  a  man 
after  snch  a  crime  ?" 

"You  heard  aright,"  answered  Folko, 
looking  with  fond  delight  on  the  delicate, 
yet  noble  spirited  being  beside  him.  "  This 
morning  with  the  earliest  dawn  I  went  to 
him  and  challenged  him  to  mortal  combat 
in  the  neighboring  valley,  if  he  were  the 
man  to  whose  cruelty  Gotthard  and  Rudlieb 
had  so  well  nigh  fallen  victims.  He  was  al- 
ready completely  armed,  and  merely  saying, 
'  I  am  he,'  he  led  the  way  towards  the  forest. 
But  when  he  stood  alone  at  the  place  of 
combat,  he  flung  away  his  shield  down  a 
giddy  precipice,  then  his  sword  was  hurled 
after  it,  and  next  with  gigantic  strength  he 
tore  off  his  coat  of  mail,  and  said :  '  JSTow 
fall  on,  thou  minister  of  vengeance,  for  I  am 
a  man  laden  with  guilt,  and  I  dare  not  fight 
with  thee.'  How  could  I  then  attack  him  ? 
A  strange  kind  of  truce  was  agreed  on  be- 
tween us, — he  is  to  be  my  vassal  to  a  certain 
extent,  and  yet  I  solemnly  forgave  him  in 
my  own  name  and  in  that  of  my  friends.  He 
was  contrite,  and  yet  no  tear  was  in  his  eye, 
no  word  of  penitence  on  his  lips.  He  is  only 


AND    HIS    COMPANIONS.  123 

kept  under  by  the  power  with  which  I  am 
endued  by  having  right  on  my  side,  and  it  is 
on  that  tenure  that  Biorn  is  my  vassal.  I 
know  not,  lady,  whether  you  can  bear  to  see 
us  together  on  these  terms ;  if  not,  I  will  ask 
for  hospitality  in  some  other  castle — there 
are  none  in  Norway  which  would  not  re- 
ceive us  joyfully  and  honorably,  and  this 
wild  autumnal  storm  may  put  off  our  voyage 
for  many  a  day.  Only  I  feel  persuaded  of 
this,  that  if  we  depart  directly  and  in  such  a 
manner,  the  heart  of  this  savage  man  will 
break." 

"  Where  my  noble  lord  remains,  there  am 
I  content  to  remain  also  under  his  protec- 
tion," replied  Gabrielle,  and  again  her  heart 
glowed  with  rapture  at  the  greatness  of  her 
knight. 


124  SlNTRAM, 


CHAPTER   XV. 

noble  lady  had  just  unbuckled  her 
knight's  armor  with  her  own  fair  hands, 
— for  it  was  only  on  the  field  of  battle  that 
pages  or  esquires  were  permitted  to  perform 
that  office  for  Montfaugon, — and  now  she 
was  throwing  over  his  shoulders  his  mantle 
of  blue  velvet  embroidered  with  gold,  when 
the  door  opened  gently,  and  Sintram,  enter- 
ing the  room,  saluted  them  with  an  air  of 
deep  humility.  Gabrielle  received  him  kind- 
ly as  she  was  wont,  but,  suddenly  turning 
pale,  she  looked  away  and  said  :  "  Oh,  Sin- 
tram,  what  has  happened  to  you  ?  And  how 
can  one  single  night  have  so  fearfully  altered 
you  ?" 

Sintram  stood  still,  thunderstruck,  and 
feeling  as  if  he  himself  did  not  know  what 
had  befallen  him.  Then  Folko  took  him  by 
the  hand,  led  him  towards  a  bright  polished 
shield,  and  said  very  earnestly  :  "  Look  here 
at  yourself,  young  knight  1" 

No  sooner  had  Sintram  cast  a  glance  in 
the  mirror  than  he  drew  back  with  horror. 


AND   HIS   COMPANIONS.  125 

He  fancied  that  he  saw  the  Little  Master  be- 
fore him  with  that  single  upright  feather 
sticking  out  of  his  cap ;  but  he  at  length 
perceived  that  the  mirror  was  only  showing 
him  his  own  image  and  none  other,  and  that 
it  was  owing  to  the  lock  of  hair  cut  off  by 
his  own  dagger  that  his  whole  appearance 
had  become  so  strange,  nay,  even  unearthly, 
as  he  was  obliged  to  confess  himself. 

"  Who  has  done  that  to  you  ?"  asked  Folko 
in  a  tone  yet  more  grave  and  solemn.  "  And 
why  does  your  disordered  hair  stand  on  end  ?" 

Sintram  knew  not  what  to  answer.  He 
felt  as  if  he  were  standing  to  be  judged,  and 
as  if  his  sentence  could  be  none  other  than 
a  shameful  degradation  from  his  knightly 
rank.  Suddenly  Folko  drew  him  away  from 
the  shield,  and  taking  him  towards  the  win- 
dow against  which  the  storm  was  beating,  he 
asked  :  "  Whence  comes  this  tempest  ?" 

Still  Sintram  kept  silence.  His  limbs  be- 
gan to  tremble  under  him,  and  Gabrielle, 
pale  and  terrified,  whispered  :  "  Oh !  Folko, 
my  knight,  what  has  happened  ?  Oh !  tell 
me ;  are  we  come  into  an  evil,  enchanted 
castle?" 

"The  land  of  our  Northern  ancestors,"  re- 
plied Folko  with  solemnity,  "  is  full  of  mys- 
11* 


126  SlNTRAM, 

terious  knowledge.  But  we  may  not,  for  all 
that,  call  its  people  enchanters;  still  this 
youth  has  good  cause  to  watch  himself  nar- 
rowly ;  he  whom  the  Evil  One  has  touched 
by  so  much  as  one  hair  of  his  head — " 

Sintram  heard  no  more  ;  writh  a  deep  groan 
he  staggered  out  of  the  room.  As  he  left  it, 
he  met  old  Rolf,  still  almost  benumbed  by 
his  exposure  to  the  cold  and  storms  of  the 
night.  Now  in  his  joy  at  again  seeing  his 
young  master,  he  did  not  remark  his  altered 
appearance  ;  but  as  he  accompanied  him  to 
his  sleeping  room,  he  said :  "  Witches  and 
spirits  of  the  tempest  must  have  taken  up 
their  abode  on  the  sea-shore.  I  am  certain 
that  such  wild  storms  never  arise  without 
some  magical  arts." 

Sintram  fell  into  a  fainting-fit,  from  which 
Rolf  could  with  difficulty  recover  him  suffi- 
ciently to  appear  in  the  great  hall  at  the 
inid-day  repast.  But  before  he  went  down, 
he  caused  a  mirror  to  be  brought,  and  hav- 
ing again  surveyed  himself  therein  with  grief 
and  horror,  he  cut  close  round  all  the  rest  of 
his  long  black  hair,  so  that  he  made  himself 
look  almost  liko  a  monk,  and  thus  he  joined 
the  party  already  assembled  round  the  table. 
They  all  looked  at  him  with  surprise,  but 


AXD    HIS    COMPANIONS.  127 

old  Biorn  rose  up  and  said  fiercely:  "Are 
you  going  to  betake  yourself  to  a  cloister  as 
well  as  the  fair  lady,  your  mother  ?" 

A  commanding  look  from  the  baron  of 
Montfaucon  checked  any  further  outbreak, 
and,  as  if  in  apology,  Biorn  added  with  a 
forced  smile:  "I  was  only  thinking  if  any 
accident  had  befallen  him,  like  Absalom's, 
and  if  he  had  been  obliged  to  save  himself 
from  being  strangled  by  parting  with  all  his 
hair." 

"You  should  not  jest  on  sacred  subjects," 
answered  the  baron,  severely,  and  all  were 
silent.  No  sooner  was  the  repast  ended  than 
Folko  and  Gabrielle,  with  grave  and  cour- 
teous salutation,  retired  to  their  own  apart- 
ments. 


128  SlNTRAM, 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

AFTER  this  time  a  great  change  took 
place  in  the  mode  of  living  of  the  in- 
habitants of  the  castle.  Those  two  bright 
beings,  Folko  and  Gabrielle,  spent  most  of 
the  day  in  their  apartments ;  and  when  they 
appeared  below,  their  intercourse  with  Biorn 
and  Sintram  was  marked  by  a  grave,  digni- 
fied reserve  on  their  part,  and  by  humility 
mixed  with  fear  on  that  of  their  hosts. 
Nevertheless,  Biorn  could  not  endure  the 
thought  of  his  guests  seeking  shelter  in  any 
other  knight's  abode.  Once  that  Folko  said 
a  word  on  the  subject,  something  like  a  tear 
stood  in  the  wild  man's  eye — his  head  sank, 
and  he  said  in  a  scarcely  audible  voice  :  "  It 
must  be  as  you  please ;  but  I  feel  that  if  you 
go,  I  shall  fly  to  the  caves  and  rocks  in  des- 
pair." 

And  thus  they  all  remained  together ;  for 
the  storm  continued  to  rage  with  such  in- 
creasing fury  over  the  sea,  that  no  thought 
of  embarking  could  be  entertained,  and  the 
oldest  man  in  Norway  could  not  call  to  mind 


AND    HIS    COMPANIONS.  129 

having  witnessed  snch  an  autumn.  The 
priests  examined  all  the  Runic  books,  tho 
bards  looked  through  their  store  of  lays  and 
tales,  and  yet  they  could  find  no  record  of 
the  like.  Biorn  and  Sintram  braved  the 
tempest ;  but  during  the  few  hours  in  which 
Folko  and  Gabrielle  showed  themselves,  the 
father  and  son  were  always  in  the  castle,  in 
respectful  attendance  upon  them  ;  the  rest  of 
the  day — nay,  even  frequently  the  whole 
night  long — they  rushed  through  the  forests 
and  over  the  rocks  in  pursuit  of  bears. 
Folko,  the  while,  summoned  to  his  aid  all 
the  brightness  of  his  fancy,  all  the  courtly 
grace  he  was  endowed  with,  in  order  to  make 
Gabrielle  forget  that  she  was  living  in  this 
wild  castle,  and  that  the  long  hard  northern 
winter  was  setting  in,  which  would  keep  her 
there  an  ice-bound  prisoner  for  many  a 
month.  Sometimes  he  would  relate  tales  of 
deep  interest ;  then  he  would  play  the  live- 
liest airs  to  induce  Gabrielle  to  tread  a  mea- 
sure with  her  attendants ;  then,  again,  hand- 
ing his  lute  to  one  of  the  women,  he  would 
himself  take  a  part  in  the  dance,  never  fail- 
ing to  express  by  his  gestures  his  homage 
and  devotion  to  his  lady.  Another  time  he 
would  have  the  soacious  hal's  of  the  castle 


130  SlNTRAM, 

prepared  for  his  armed  retainers  to  go 
through  their  warlike  exercises  and  trials  of 
strength,  and  Gabrielle  always  adjudged  the 
reward  to  the  conqueror.  Folko  often  joined 
the  circle  of  combatants ;  but  always  took 
care  to  deprive  no  one  of  the  prize,  by  con- 
fining his  efforts  merely  to  parrying  the 
blows  aimed  at  him.  The  Norwegians,  who 
stood  around  as  spectators,  used  to  compare 
him  to  the  demigod  Baldur,  one  of  the  heroes 
of  their  old  traditions,  who  was  wont  to  let 
the  darts  of  his  companions  be  all  hurled 
against  him,  conscious  that  he  was  invulner- 
able, and  trusting  in  his  own  inherent 
strength. 

At  the  close  of  one  of  these  martial  exer- 
cises, old  Rolf  advanced  towards  Folko,  and 
beckoning  him  with  a  humble  look,  he  said 
softly :  "  They  call  you  Baldur  the  brave,  the 
good — and  they  are  right.  But  even  the 
good  and  brave  Baldur  did  not  escape  death. 
Take  heed  to  yourself."  Folko  looked  at 
him  with  surprise.  "Not  that  I  know  of 
any  treacherous  design  against  you,"  con- 
tinued the  old  man ;  "  or  that  I  can  even 
foresee  the  likelihood  of  any  being  formed. 
God  forbid  that  a  Norwegian  should  feel 
such  a  fear.  But  when  you  stand  before  me 


AND    HIS    COMPANIONS.  131 

in  all  the  brightness  of  your  glory,  the 
fleetingness  of  everything  earthly  is  brought 
strongly  to  my  mind,  and  I  cannot  re- 
frain from  saying,  'Take  heed,  noble 
baron !  oh,  take  heed !  There  is  nothing, 
however  great,  which  does  not  come  to  an 
end.'" 

"  Those  are  wise  and  pious  thoughts,"  re- 
plied Folko,  calmly,  "and  I  will  treasure 
them  in  my  inmost  heart." 

The  good  Kolf  spent  frequently  some  time 
with  Folko  and  Gabrielle,  and  seemed  to 
form  a  connecting  link  between  the  two 
widely-differing  parties  in  the  castle.  For 
how  could  he  have  ever  forsaken  his  own 
Sintram !  It  was  only  in  their  wild  hunting 
expeditions,  when  they  had  no  regard  to  the 
storms  and  tempests  which  were  raging,  that 
he  no  longer  was  able  to  follow  his  young 
lord. 

At  length  the  icy  reign  of  winter  began  in 
all  its  glory.  The  season  was  sufficient  of 
itself  to  prevent  a  return  to  Normandy  being 
thought  of,  and  therefore  the  storm  which 
had  been  raised  by  magical  art,  was  lulled. 
The  hills  and  valleys  shone  brilliantly  in 
their  white  attire  of  snow,  and  Folko  used 
sometimes,  with  skates  on  his  feet,  to  draw 


132  SlNTRAM, 

his  lady  in  a  light  sledge  over  the  glittering 
frozen  lakes  and  streams.  On  the  other 
hand,  the  bear-hunts  of  the  lord  of  the  castle 
and  his  son  assumed  a  still  more  desperate 
and  to  them  enjoyable  aspect. 

About  this  time, — when  Christmas  was 
drawing  near,  and  Sintram  was  seeking  to 
overpower  his  apprehensions  of  the  fearful 
dreams  which  were  wont  to  trouble  him 
then,  by  the  most  daring  expeditions, — about 
this  time,  Folko  and  Gabrielle  chanced  to 
be  standing  together  on  one  of  the  terraces 
of  the  castle.  The  evening  was  mild ;  the 
snow-clad  fields  were  glowing  in  the  red  light 
of  the  setting  sun;  from  below  there  were 
heard  men's  voices  singing  songs  of  ancient 
heroic  times,  while  they  worked  in  the  ar- 
morer's forge.  At  last  the  songs  died  away, 
the  beating  of  hammers  ceased,  and  without 
the  speakers  being  visible,  or  there  being  any 
possibility  of  distinguishing  them  by  their 
voices,  the  following  discourse  was  distinctly 
heard : — 

"Who  is  the  bravest  amongst  all  those 
whose  race  derives  its  origin  from  our  re- 
nowned land  ?" 

"  It  is  Folko  of  Montfaugon." 

"  Rightly  said ;  but,  tell  me,  is  there  any 


AND    HIS    COMPANIONS.  133 

danger  from  which  even  this  bold  baron 
draws  back  ?" 

"  In  truth,  there  is  one  thing, — and  we  who 
have  never  left  Norway,  face  it  quite  willing- 
ly and  joyfully." 

"And  that  is?" 

"A  bear-hunt  in  winter,  over  trackless 
plains  of  snow,  down  frightful  ice-covered 
precipices." 

"Truly  thou  answerest  aright,  my  com- 
rade. He  who  knows  not  how  to  fasten  our 
skates  on  his  feet,  how  to  turn  in  them  to 
the  right  or  left  at  a  moment's  warning,  he 
may  be  a  valiant  knight  in  other  respects, 
but  he  had  better  keep  away  from  our  hunt- 
ing parties,  and  remain  with  his  timid  wife 
in  her  apartments."  At  which  the  speakers 
were  heard  to  laugh  as  if  well  pleased,  and 
then  to  betake  themselves  again  to  their  ar- 
morers' work. 

Folko  stood  long  buried  in  thought.  A 
glow  beyond  that  of  the  evening  sky  red- 
dened his  cheek.  Gabrielle  also  remained 
silent,  revolving  in  her  mind  that  for  which 
she  was  unable  to  find  words.  At  last  she 
took  courage,  and  embracing  her  beloved, 
she  said  :  "  To-morrow  you  will  go  forth  to 
hunt  the  bear,  will  you  not  ?  and  you  will 
12 


134  SINTRAM, 

bring    the    spoils    of    the    chase    to    your 
lady  ?" 

The  knight  gave  a  joyful  sign  of  assent ; 
and  the  rest  of  the  evening  was  spent  in 
dances  and  music. 


AND    HIS    COMPANIONS.  135 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

EE,  my  noble  Lord,"  said  Sintram  the 
next  morning,  when  Folko  had  ex- 
pressed his  wish  of  going  out  with  him, 
"these  skates  of  ours  give  such  wings  to 
our  course  that  we  go  down  the  mountain 
side  more  swiftly  than  the  wind,  and  even  hi 
going  up  again  we  are  too  quick  for  any  one 
to  be  able  to  pursue  us,  and  on  the  plains  no 
horse  can  keep  up  with  us,  and  yet  they  can 
only  be  worn  with  safety  by  those  who  are 
well  practised.  It  seems  as  though  some 
strange  spirit  dwelt  in  them,  which  is  fear- 
fully dangerous  to  any  that  have  not  learnt 
the  management  of  them  in  their  child- 
hood." 

Folko  answered  somewhat  proudly  :  "  Do 
you  suppose  that  this  is  the  first  time  that  I 
have  been  amongst  your  mountains  ?  Years 
ago  I  have  joined  in  this  sport,  and,  thank 
Heaven !  there  is  no  knightly  exercise 
which  does  not  speedily  become  familiar  to 
me." 

Sintram  did  not  venture  to  make  any  fur- 


136  SIN  TRAM, 

ther  objections,  and  still  less  did  old  Biorn. 
They  both  felt  relieved  when  they  saw  with 
rrhat  skill  and  ease  Folko  buckled  the  skates 
on  his  feet,  without  suffering  any  one  to  as- 
sist him.  This  day  they  hunted  up  the 
mountain,  in  pursuit  of  a  fierce  bear  which 
had  often  before  escaped  from  them.  Before 
long  it  was  necessary  that  they  should  sepa- 
rate into  different  parties,  and  Sintrarn  offer- 
ed himself  as  companion  to  Folko,  who, 
touched  by  the  humble  manner  of  the  youth, 
and  his  devotion  to  him,  forgot  all  that  had 
disturbed  him  latterly  in  the  pale,  altered 
being  before  him,  and  agreed  heartily  to  his 
proposal.  As  now  they  continued  to  climb 
higher  and  higher  up  the  mountain,  and  saw 
from  many  a  giddy  height  the  rocks  and 
crags  below  them  looking  like  a  vast  expanse 
of  sea  suddenly  turned  into  ice  whilst  tossed 
by  a  violent  tempest,  the  noble  Montfaugon 
drew  his  breath  more  freely.  lie  poured 
forth  war-songs  and  love-songs  in  the  clear 
mountain  air,  and  the  startled  echoes  re- 
peated from  rock  to  rock  the  lays  of  his 
southern  home.  He  sprang  lightly  from  one 
precipice  to  another,  making  use  skilfully  of 
the  staff  with  which  he  was  furnished  for 
support,  and  turning  now  to  the  right,  no\v 


AXD     HIS      COMPAXIOXS.  137 

to  the  left,  as  the  fancy  seized  him,  so  that 
Sintram  was  fain  to  exchange  his  former 
anxiety  for  a  wondering  admiration,  and  the 
hunters,  whose  eyes  had  never  been  taken 
off  the  baron,  burst  forth  with  loud  applause, 
proclaiming  far  and  wide  this  fresh  proof  of 
his  prowess. 

The  good  fortune  which  usually  accom- 
panied Folko's  deeds  of  arms,  seemed  still 
unwilling  to  leave  him.  After  a  short 
search,  he  and  Sintram  found  distinct  traces 
of  the  savage  animal  they  were  pursuing, 
and  with  beating  hearts  they  followed  the 
track  so  swiftly,  that  even  a  winged  enemy 
would  have  been  unable  to  escape  from 
them.  But  the  creature  whom  they  sought 
did  not  attempt  a  flight — he  lay  sulkily 
ensconsced  in  a  cavern  near  the  top  of  a 
steep  precipitous  rock,  infuriated  by  the 
shouts  of  the  hunters,  and  only  waiting  in 
his  lazy  fury  for  some  one  to  be  bold  enough 
to  climb  up  to  his  retreat,  that  he  might 
tear  him  to  pieces.  Folko  and  Sintram  had 
now  reached  the  foot  of  this  rock,  the  rest  of 
the  hunters  being  dispersed  over  the  far- 
extending  plain.  The  track  led  the  two 
companions  up  the  rock,  and  they  set  about 
climbing  on  the  opposite  sides  of  it,  that 
12* 


138  S  i  N  T  R  A  sr , 

they  might  be  the  more  sure  of  not  missing 
their  prey.  Folko  reached  the  lonely  top- 
most point  first,  and  cast  his  eyes  around. 
A  wide,  boundless  tract  of  country,  covered 
•with  untrodden  snow,  was  spread  before 
him,  melting  in  the  distance  into  the  lower- 
ing clouds  of  the  gloomy  evening  sky.  He 
almost  thought  that  he  must  have  missed 
the  traces  of  the  fearful  animal ;  when  close 
beside  him,  from  a  cleft  in  the  rock5  issued  a 
long  growl,  and  a  huge  black  bear  appeared 
on  the  snow,  standing  on  its  hind  legs,  and 
with  glaring  eyes  it  advanced  towards  the 
baron.  Sintram  the  while  was  struggling 
in  vain  to  make  his  way  up  the  rock 
against  the  masses  of  snow  which  were  con- 
tinually slipping  down  upon  him. 

Rejoicing  in  an  adventure,  such  as  he  had 
not  encountered  for  years,  and  which  now 
appeared  new  to  him,  Folko  of  Montfaugon 
levelled  his  hunting  spear,  and  awaited  the 
attack  of  the  wild  beast.  He  suffered  it  to 
approach  so  near  that  its  fearful  claws  were 
almost  upon  him;  then  he  made  a  thrust, 
and  the  spear  was  buried  deep  in  the  bear's 
breast.  But  the  furious  beast  still  pressed 
on  with  a  fierce  growl,  kept  up  on  its  hind 
legs  by  the  cross  iron  of  the  spear,  and  the 


AND    HIS    COMPANIONS.  139 

kniglit  was  forced  to  use  all  his  strength  not 
to  lose  his  footing  and  to  resist  the  savage 
assault ;  and  the  whole  time  there  was  the 
grim  face  of  the  bear  all  covered  with  blood, 
close  before  him,  and  sounding  in  his  ear  was 
its  deep  savage  growl,  which  told  of  its  thirst 
for  blood,  even  in  the  midst  of  its  death- 
struggles.  At  length  the  bear's  resistance 
grew  weaker,  and  the  dark  blood  streamed 
upon  the  snow ;  one  powerful  thrust  hurled 
him  backwards  over  the  edge  of  the  preci- 
pice. At  the  same  instant,  Sintram  stood 
by  the  baron  of  Montfaugon.  Folko  said, 
drawing  a  deep  breath :  "  But  I  have  not 
yet  the  prize  in  my  hands,  and  have  it  I 
must,  since  fortune  has  given  me  a  claim  to 
it.  Look,  one  of  my  skates  seems  to  be  out 
of  order.  Do  you  think,  Sintram,  that  it  is 
in  such  a  state  as  not  to  hinder  me  in  sliding 
down  to  the  foot  of  the  precipice  ?" 

"  Let  me  go  instead,"  said  Sintram.  "  I 
will  bring  you  the  head  and  the  claws  of  the 
bear." 

"A  true  knight,"  replied  Folko,  with 
some  displeasure,  "  never  leaves  his  work  to 
be  finished  by  another.  What  I  ask  is, 
whether  my  skate  is  still  fit  for  use  ?" 

As  Sintram  bent  down  to  look,  and  was 


140  Si  NT  RAM, 

on  the  point  of  saying  "No!"  he  suddenly- 
heard  a  voice  close  to  him,  saying  :  "  Why, 
yes !  to  be  sure ;  there  is  no  doubt  about 
it." 

Folko  thought  that  Sintrarn  had  spoken, 
and  darted  off  with  the  swiftness  of  an 
arrow,  whilst  his  companion  looked  up  in 
great  surprise.  The  abhorred  features  of  the 
Little  Master  met  his  eyes.  As  he  was 
going  to  address  him  with  angry  words,  he 
heard  the  sound  of  the  baron's  fearful  fall 
down  the  precipice,  and  he  stood  still  in 
silent  horror.  There  was  a  breathless 
silence  also  in  the  abyss  below. 

"  Now,  why  do  you  delay  ?"  said  the  Little 
Master,  after  a  paused  "He  is  dashed  to 
pieces.  Go  back  to  the  castle,  and  take  the 
fair  Helen  to  yourself." 

Sintram  shuddered.  Then  his  detestable 
companion  began  to  extol  Gabrielle's  charms 
in  such  glowing,  deceiving  words,  that  the 
heart  of  the  youth  swelled  with  a  torrent  of 
emotions  he  had  never  before  known.  He 
only  ,  bought  of  him  who  was  now  lying  at 
the  foot  of  the  rock  as  of  an  obstacle  removed 
from  his  way  to  Paradise ;  he  turned  towards 
the  castle. 

But  a  cry  was  heard  below — "  Help !  help ! 


AND  HIS   COMPANIONS.  141 

my  comrade !  I  am  yet  alive  but  I  am  sorely 
wounded." 

Sintram's  will  was  changed,  and  he  called 
to  the  baron,  "  I  am  coming." 

But  the  Little  Master  said,  "  Nothing  can 
be  done  to  help  king  Menelaus ;  and  the  fair 
Helen  knows  it  already.  She  is  only  wait 
ing  for  knight  Paris  to  comfort  her."  And 
with  detestable  craft  he  wove  in  that  talo 
with  what  was  actually  happening,  bringing 
in  the  most  highly  wrought  praises  of  the 
lovely  Gabrielle ;  and,  alas !  the  blinded 
youth  harkened  to  him,  and  fled  away! 
Again  he  heard  far  off  the  baron's  voice  call- 
ing to  him,  "  Knight  Sintram !  knight  Sin- 
tram  !  you  on  whom  I  bestowed  that  noblo 
order,  haste  to  me  and  help  me !  The  she- 
bear  and  her  whelps  will  be  upon  me,  and  I 
cannot  use  my  right  arm  !  Knight  Sintrarn ! 
knight  Sintram  !  haste  to  help  me !" 

His  cries  were  overpowered  by  the  furious 
speed  with  which  the  two  were  carried  along 
on  their  skates,  and  by  the  evil  words  of  the 
Little  IVl  aster,  who  was  mocking  at  the  late 
proud  bearing  of  king  Menelaus  towards  the 
miserable  Sintram.  At  last  he  shouted, 
"  Good  luck  to  you,  she-bear !  good  luck  to 
your  whelps  !  There  is  a  glorious  meal  for 


142  SlNTRAM, 

you!  2sTow  you  will  destroy  the  fear  of 
Heathendom,  him  at  whose  name  the  Moor- 
ish women  weep,  the  mighty  baron  of  Mont- 
faugon.  Never  again,  oh!  dainty  knight, 
will  you  shout  at  the  head  of  your  troops, 
'  Mountjoy  St.  Denys !'  "  But  scarce  had 
this  holy  name  name  passed  the  lips  of  the 
Little  Master,  than  he  set  up  a  howl  of 
anguish,  writhing  himself  with  horrible  con- 
tortions, and  wringing  his  hands,  and  he 
ended  by  disappearing  in  a  storm  of  snow 
which  then  arose. 

Sin  tram  planted  his  staff  firmly  in  the 
ground,  and  stopped.  How  strangely  did 
the  wide  expanse  of  snow,  the  distant  moun- 
tains rising  above  it,  and  the  dark  green  fir 
woods — how  strangely  did  they  all  look  at 
him  in  cold  reproachful  silence !  He  felt  as 
if  he  must  sink  under  the  weight  of  his  sor- 
row and  his  guilt.  The  bell  of  a  distant 
hermitage  came  floating  sadly  over  the  plain. 
With  a  burst  of  tears  he  exclaimed,  as  the 
darkness  grew  thicker  around  him,  "  My 
mother !  my  mother  !  I  had  once  a  beloved 
tender  mother,  and  she  said  I  was  a  good 
child !"  A  ray  of  comfort  came  to  him  as  if 
brought  on  an  angel's  wing ;  perhaps  Mont- 
faugon  was  not  yet  dead !  and  he  flew  like 


AND    HIS    COMPANIONS.  143 

lightning  along  the  path  "which  led  back  to 
the  steep  rock.  "When  he  got  to  the  fearful 
place,  he  stooped  and  looked  anxiously  down 
the  precipice.  The  moon  which  had  just 
risen  in  full  majesty  helped  him  with  her 
light.  The  knight  of  Montfaucon,  pale  and 
covered  with  blood,  was  supporting  himself 
on  one  knee,  and  leaning  against  the  rock 
— his  right  arm,  which  had  been  crushed  in 
his  fall,  hung  powerless  at  his  side ;  it  was 
plain  that  he  had  not  been  able  to  draw  his 
good  sword  out  of  the  scabbard.  But,  never- 
theless, he  was  keeping  the  bear  and  her 
young  ones  at  bay  by  his  bold  threatening 
looks,  so  that  they  only  crept  round  him, 
growling  angrily;  every  moment  ready  for 
a  fierce  attack,  but  as  often  driven  back 
affrighted  at  the  majestic  air  by  which  he 
conquered  even  when  defenceless. 

"  Oh !  what  a  knight  would  here  have 
perished !"  groaned  Sintram,  "  and  through 
whose  guilt  ?"  At  that  instant  his  spear  flew 
with  so  true  an  aim  that  the  bear  fell  welter- 
ing in  her  blood ;  the  young  ones  ran  away 
howling. 

The  baron  looked  up  with  surprise.  His 
countenance  beamed,  as  the  light  of  the  moon 
fell  upon  it,  with  a  grave  and  stern  yet  mild 


144  SiNTRAM, 

expression,  like  some  angelic  vision.  He 
made  a  sign  to  Sintram  to  come  to  him,  and 
the  youth  slid  down  the  side  of  the  precipice 
full  of  anxious  haste.  He  was  going  to  attend 
to  the  wounded  knight,  but  Folko  said, 
"  First  cut  off  the  head  and  claws  of  the  bear 
which  I  slew.  I  promised  to  bring  the  spoils 
of  the  chase  to  my  lovely  Gabrielle.  Then 
come  to  me,  and  bind  up  my  wounds.  My 
right  arm  is  broken."  Sintram  obeyed  the 
baron's  commands.  When  the  tokens  of 
victory  had  been  secured,  and  the  broken 
arm  bound  up,  Folko  desired  the  youth  to 
help  him  back  to  the  castle. 

"  Oh  Heavens !"  said  Sintram  in  a  low 
voice,  "  if  I  dared  to  look  in  your  face  !  or 
only  knew  how  to  come  near  you !" 

"  You  were  indeed  going  on  in  an  evil 
course,"  said  Montfaugon,  gravely;  "but 
how  could  we,  any  of  us,  stand  before  God, 
did  we  not  bring  repentance  with  us  !  Any- 
how you  have  now  saved  my  life,  and  let 
that  thought  cheer  your  heart." 

The  youth  with  tenderness  and  strength, 
supported  the  baron's  left  arm,  and  they 
both  went  their  way  silently  in  the  moon- 
light. 


AND  HIS   COMPANIONS.  145 


CHAPTER   XVIII. 

SOUNDS  of  wailing  were  heard  from  the 
castle  as  they  approached,  the  chapel  was 
solemnly  lighted  up ;  within  it  knelt  Gabri- 
elle,  lamenting  for  the  death  of  the  knight 
of  Montfaucon. 

But  how  quickly  was  the  scene  changed, 
when  the  noble  baron,  pale  indeed,  and 
wounded,  yet  having  escaped  the  dangers 
that  beset  his  life,  stood  smiling  at  the  en- 
trance of  the  holy  building,  and  said  in  a 
low,  gentle  voice,  "  Look  up,  Gabrielle,  and 
be  not  affrighted ;  for  by  the  honor  of  my 
race  your  knight  still  lives."  Oh !  with 
what  joy  did  Gabrielle's  eyes  sparkle,  as  she 
turned  to  her  knight  and  then  raised  them 
again  to  heaven  ;  the  tears  which  still  stream- 
ed from  them  having  now  their  source  in 
the  deep  joy  of  thankfulness !  With  the 
help  of  two  pages,  Folko  knelt  down  beside 
her,  and  they  both  offered  up  a  silent  prayer 
of  thanksgiving  for  their  present  happiness. 

"When  they  all  left  the  chapel,  the  wound- 
ed knight  being  tenderly  supported  by  his 
13 


146  SlN TRAM, 

lady,  Sintram  was  standing  without  in  the 
darkness,  himself  as  gloomy  as  the  night, 
and  like  a  bird  of  the  night  shunning  the 
sight  of  man.  Yet  he  came  trembling  for- 
ward into  the  torch-light,  laid  the  bear's 
head  and  claws  at  the  feet  of  Gabrielle,  and 
eaid  :  "  The  noble  JFolko  of  Montfaucon  pre- 
sents the  spoils  of  to-day's  chase  to  his  lady." 

The  Norwegians  burst  forth  with  shouts 
of  joyful  surprise  at  the  stranger  knight,  who 
in  the  very  first  hunting  expediton  had  slain 
the  most  fearful  and  dangerous  beast  of  their 
mountains. 

Then  Folko  looked  around  with  a  smile 
as  he  said :  "  And  now  none  of  you  must 
jeer  at  me,  if  I  stay  at  home  for  a  short  time 
with  my  timid  wife." 

Those  who  the  day  before  had  talked  to- 
gether in  the  armorer's  forge,  came  out  from 
the  crowd,  and  bowing  low,  they  replied : 
"  Ixoble  baron,  who  could  have  thought  that 
there  was  no  knightly  exercise  in  the  whole 
world,  in  which  you  would  not  show  yourself 
far  above  all  other  men  2" 

"  The  pupil  of  old  Sir  Hugh  may  be  some- 
what trusted,"  answered  Folko  kindly.  "  But 
now,  you  bold  northern  warriors,  bestow  some 
praises  also  on  my  deliverer,  who  saved  me 


AND  HIS   COMPANIONS.  147 

from  the  claws  of  the  she-bear,  when  I  was 
lying  under  the  rock  wounded  by  my  fall." 

He  pointed  to  Sintram,  and  the  general 
shout  was  again  raised,  and  old  Rolf,  his  eyes 
dim  with  tears  of  joy,  bent  his  head  over  his 
foster-son's  hand.  But  Sintram  drew  back 
shuddering. 

"  Did  you  but  know,"  he  said,  "  whom 
you  see  before  you,  all  your  spears  would  be 
aimed  at  my  heart ;  and  perhaps  that  would 
be  the  best  thing  that  could  befall  me.  But 
I  spare  the  honor  of  my  father  and  of  his 
race,  and  for  this  time  I  will  not  make  a  con- 
fession. Only  this  much  must  you  hear,  no- 
ble warriors." 

"  Young  man,"  interrupted  Folko,  with  a 
reproving  look,  "  already  again  so  wild  and 
fierce  ?  I  desire  that  you  will  hold  your 
peace  about  your  dreaming  fancies." 

Sintram  was  silent  for  a  moment,  but 
hardly  had  Folko  begun  to  move  towards 
the  steps  of  the  castle,  than  he  cried  out : 
"  Oh  no,  no,  noble  wounded  knight,  stay  yet 
awhile  ;  I  will  serve  you  in  every  thing  that 
your  heart  can  desire ;  but  this  once  I  can- 
not obey  you.  Brave  warriors,  you  must 
and  shall  know  so  much  as  this :  I  am  no 
longer  worthy  to  live  under  the  same  roof 


148  Si NT RAM, 

•with  the  noble  baron  of  Montfaugon  and  his 
angelic  lady  Gabrielle.  And  you,  my  aged 
father,  farewell :  take  no  further  heed  of  me. 
I  intend  to  live  in  the  stone  fortress  on  the 
Hocks  of  the  Moon,  until  a  change  of  some 
kind  comes  over  me." 

There  was  that  in  his  way  of  speaking 
against  which  no  one  dared  to  urge  any  op- 
position, not  even  Folko  himself. 

The  wild  Biom  bowed  his  head  humbly, 
and  said  :  "  Do  according  to  your  pleasure, 
my  poor  son  ;  for  I  much  fear  that  you  are 
right." 

Then  Sintram  walked  solemnly  and  silently 
through  the  castle  gate,  followed  by  the  good 
Rolf.  Gabrielle  led  her  exhausted  lord  up  to 
their  apartments. 


AND    HIS    COMPANIONS.  149 


CHAPTER    XIX. 

r  I  ^H  AT  was  a  mournful  journey  on  which 
-A-  the  youth  and  his  aged  foster-father 
went  towards  the  Rocks  of  the  Moon,  through 
the  wild  tangled  paths  of  the  snow-covered 
valleys.  Rolf  from  time  to  time  sang  some 
verses  of  hymns,  in  which  comfort  and  peace 
were  promised  to  the  penitent  sinner,  and 
Sin  tram  thanked  him  for  them  with  looks  of 
grateful  sadness.  Otherwise  neither  of  them 
spoke  a  word. 

At  length,  when  the  dawn  of  day  was  ap- 
proaching, Sintram  broke  silence  by  saying: 
"  Who  are  those  two,  sitting  yonder  by  the 
frozen  stream  ?  A  tall  man,  and  a  little  one. 
Their  own  wild  hearts  must  have  driven 
them  also  forth  into  the  wilderness.  Rolf, 
do  you  know  them?  The  sight  of  them 
makes  me  shudder." 

"  Sir,"  answered  the  old  man,  "  your  dis- 
turbed mind  deceives  you.  Where  you  are 
looking,  there  stands  a  lofty  fir-tree,  and  the 
old  weather-beaten  stump  of  an  oak,  half- 
covered  with  snow,  which  gives  them  a 
13* 


150  Si  XT  RAM, 

somewhat  strange  appearance.  There  are 
no  men  sitting  yonder." 

"  But,  Rolf,  look  there  !  Look  again  care- 
fully !  Now  they  move,  they  whisper  toge- 
ther." 

"  Sir,  the  morning  breeze  moves  the 
branches,  and  whistles  in  the  sharp  pine- 
leaves,  and  in  the  yellow  oak-leaves,  and 
rustles  the  crisp  snow." 

"  Rolf,  now  they  are  both  coming  towards 
us.  Now  they  are  standing  before  us  ;  they 
are  quite  close." 

"  Sir,  it  is  we  who  get  nearer  to  them  as 
we  walk  on,  and  the  setting  moon  throws 
such  long  giant-like  shadows  over  the  plain." 

"  Good  evening !"  said  a  hollow  voice,  and 
Sintram  knew  it  was  the  crazy  pilgrim,  near 
to  whom  stood  t|je  malignant  dwarf,  looking 
more  hideous  than  ever. 

"  You  are  right,  sir  knight,"  whispered 
Rolf,  as  he  drew  back  behind  Sintram,  and 
made  the  sign  of  the  Cross  on  his  breast  and 
forehead. 

The  bewildered  youth,  however,  advanced 
towards  the  two  figures,  and  said  :  "  You 
have  always  taken  wonderful  pleasure  in 
being  my  companions.  What  do  you  ex- 
pect will  come  of  it  ?  And  do  you  choose  to 


AND    HIS    COMPANIONS.  151 

go  now  with  me  to  the  stone  fortress?  There 
I  will  tend  yon,  poor  pale  pilgrim ;  and  as 
to  you,  frightful  Master,  most  evil  dwarf,  L 
will  make  you  shorter  by  the  head,  to  re- 
ward you  for  your  deeds  yesterday." 

"  That  would  be  a  fine  thing,"  sneered  the 
Little  Master ;  "  and  perhaps  you  imagine 
that  you  would  be  doing  a  great  service  to 
the  whole  world  ?"  And  indeed  who  knows  ? 
Something  might  be  gained  by  it !  Only, 
poor  wretch,  you  cannot  do  it." 

The  pilgrim  meantime  was  waving  his 
pale  head  to  and  fro  thoughtfully,  saying : 
*'  I  believe  truly  that  you  would  willingly 
have  me,  and  I  would  go  to  you  willingly, 
but  I  may  not  yet.  Have  patience  awhile ; 
you  will  yet  surely  see  me  come,  but  at  a 
distant  time  ;  and,  first,  we  must  again  visit 
your  father  together,  and  then  also  you  will 
learn  to  call  me  by  my  right  name,  my  poor 
friend." 

"  Beware  of  disappointing  me  again  !" 
said  Little  Master  to  the  pilgrim  in  a  threat- 
ening voice  ;  but  he,  pointing  with  his  long, 
shrivelled  hand  towards  the  sun,  which  was 
just  now  rising,  said :  "  Stop  either  that  sun 
or  me,  if  you  can !" 

Then  the  first  rays  fell  on  the  snow,  and 


152  S  I  N  T  R  A  M  , 

Little  Master  ran  down  a  precipice,  scolding 
as  he  went ;  but  the  pilgrim  walked  on  in 
the  bright  beams,  calmly  and  with  great 
solemnity,  towards  a  neighboring  castle  on 
the  mountain.  It  was  not  long  before  its 
<jhapel  bell  was  heard  tolling  for  the  dead. 

"For  Heaven's  sake,"  whispered  the  good 
Rolf  to  his  knight,  "  for  Heaven's  sake,  Sir 
Sintram,  what  kind  of  companions  have  you 
here  ?  One  of  them  cannot  bear  the  light  of 
God's  blessed  sun,  and  the  other  has  no 
sooner  set  a  foot  in  a  dwelling  than  the  pass- 
ing-bell is  heard  from  thence.  Could  he 
have  been  a  murderer?" 

"  I  do  not  think  that,"  said  Sintram. 
"  He  seemed  to  me  the  best  of  the  two. 
But  it  is  a  strange  wilfulness  of  his  not  to 
come  with  me.  Did  I  not  invite  him 
kindly?  I  believe  that  he  can  sing  well, 
and  he  should  have  sung  to  me  some  gentle 
lullaby.  Since  my  mother  has  lived  in  a 
cloister,  no  one  sings  lullabies  to  me  any 
more." 

At  this  tender  recollection  his  eyes  were 
bedewed  with  tears.  But  he  did  not  himself 
know  what  he  had  said  besides,  for  there 
was  wildness  and  confusion  in  his  spirit. 
They  arrived  at  the  Rocks  of  the  Moon, 


AND    HIS    COMPANIONS.  153 

they  mounted  up  to  the  stone  fortress.  The 
castellan,  an  old,  gloomy  man,  who  was  all 
the  more  devoted  to  the  young  knight  from 
his  dark  melancholy  and  wild  deeds,  hast- 
ened to  lower  the  drawbridge.  Greetings 
were  exchanged  in  silence,  and  in  silence 
did  Sintra'm  enter,  and  those  joyless  gates 
closed  with  a  crash  behind  the  future  re- 
cluse. 


154  Si  NT RAM, 


CHAPTER   XX. 

YES,  truly,  a  recluse,  or  at  least  some- 
thing like  it,  did  poor  Sin  tram  now 
become !  For  towards  the  time  of  the 
approaching  Christmas  Festival  his  fearful 
dreams  came  over  him,  and  seized  him  so 
fiercely,  that  all  the  esquires  and  servants 
fled  with  shrieks  out  of  the  castle,  and 
would  never  venture  back  again.  No  one 
remained  with  him  except  Rolf  and  the  old 
castellan.  After  awhile,  indeed,  Sintram 
became  calm,  but  he  went  about  looking  so 
pallid  and  subdued,  that  he  might  have  been, 
taken  for  a  wandering  corpse.  No  comfort- 
ing of  the  good  Rolf,  no  devout  soothing 
lays,  were  of  any  avail ;  and  the  castellan, 
with  his  fierce,  scarred  features,  his  head 
almost  entirely  bald  from  a  huge  sword-cut, 
his  stubborn  silence,  seemed  like  a  yet 
darker  shadow  of  the  miserable  knight. 
Kolf  often  thought  of  going  to  summon  the 
holy  chaplain  of  Drontheim,  but  how  could 
he  have  left  his  lord  alone  with  the  gloomy 
castellan,  a  man  who  at  all  times  raised  in 


AND   HIS   COMPANIONS.  155 

him  a  secret  horror.  Biorn  had  long  had 
this  wild  strange  warrior  in  his  service,  and 
honored  him  on  account  of  his  unshaken 
fidelity  and  his  fearless  courage,  without  the 
knight  or  any  one  else  knowing  whence  the 
castellan  came,  or  indeed  exactly  who  he 
was.  Very  few  people  knew  by  what  name 
to  call  him,  but  that  was  the  more  needless 
since  he  never  entered  into  discourse  with 
any  one.  He  was  the  castellan  of  the  stone 
fortress  on  the  Rocks  of  the  Moon,  and 
nothing  more. 

Rolf  committed  his  deep  heartfelt  cares  to 
the  merciful  God,  trusting  that  he  would 
soon  come  to  his  aid,  and  the  merciful  God 
did  not  fail  him.  For  on  Christmas  eve  the 
bell  at  the  drawbridge  sounded,  and  Rolf, 
looking  over  the  battlements,  saw  the  chap- 
lain of  Drontheim  standing  there,  with  a 
companion  indeed  that  surprised  him, — for 
close  beside  him  appeared  the  crazy  pilgrim, 
and  the  dead  men's  bones  on  his  dark  man- 
tle shone  very  strangely  in  the  glimmering 
starlight ;  but  the  sight  of  the  chaplain 
filled  the  good  Rolf  too  full  of  joy  to  leave 
room  for  any  doubt  in  his  mind — for,, 
thought  he,  whoever  comes  with  him,  can- 
not but  be  welcome  !  And  so  he  let  them 


156  SlNTRAM, 

both  in  with  respectful  haste,  and  ushered 
them  up  to  the  hall  where  Sintram,  pale  and 
with  a  fixed  look,  was  sitting  under  the  light 
of  one  flickering  lamp.  Rolf  was  obliged  to 
support  and  assist  the  crazy  pilgrim  up  the 
stairs,  for  he  was  quite  benumbed  with  cold. 

"  I  bring  you  a  greeting  from  your  mother," 
said  the  chaplain,  as  he  came  in,  and  imme- 
diately a  sweet  smile  passed  over  the  young 
knight's  countenance,  and  its  deadly  pallid- 
ness gave  place  to  a  bright,  soft  glow. 

"  Oh  Heaven !"  murmured  he,  "  does  then 
my  mother  yet  live,  and  does  she  care  to 
know  any  thing  about  me  ?" 

"  She  is  endowed  with  wonderful  presenti- 
ment of  the  future,"  replied  the  chaplain, 
"  and  all  that  you  ought  either  to  do  or  to 
leave  undone  is  pictured  in  various  ways  in 
her  mind,  during  a  half-waking  trance,  but 
with  most  faithful  exactness.  Now  she 
knows  of  your  deep  sorrow,  and  she  sends 
me,  the  Father  Confessor  of  her  convent,  to 
comfort  you,  but  at  the  same  time  to  warn 
you,  for,  as  she  affirms,  and  as  I  am  also  in- 
clined to  think,  many  strange  and  heavy 
trials  lie  before  you." 

Sintram  bowed  himself  towards  the  chap- 
lain with  his  arms  crossed  over  his  breast, 


AND    HIS    COMPANIONS.  157 

and  said  with  a  gentle  smile :  "  Much  have 
I  been  favored,  more,  a  thousand  times  more, 
than  I  could  have  dared  to  hope  in  my  best 
hours,  by  this  greeting  from  my  mother,  and 
your  visit,  reverend  sir  ;  and  all  after  falling 
more  fearfully  low  than  I  had  ever  fallen  be- 
fore. The  mercy  of  the  Lord  is  great,  and 
how  heavy  soever  may  be  the  weight  and 
punishment  which  he  may  send,  I  trust  with 
His  grace  to  be  able  to  bear  it." 

Just  then  the  door  opened,  and  the  castel- 
lan came  in  with  a  torch  in  his  hand,  the 
red  glare  of  which  made  his  face  look  the 
color  of  blood.  He  cast  a  terrified  glance 
at  the  crazy  pilgrim,  who  had  just  sunk 
back  in  a  swoon,  and  was  supported  on  his 
seat  and  tended  by  Rolf;  then  he  stared  with 
astonishment  at  the  chaplain,  and  at  last 
murmured :  "  A  strange  meeting !  I  believe 
that  the  hour  for  confession  and  reconcilia- 
tion is  now  arrived." 

"  I  believe  so, -too,"  replied  the  priest,  who 
had  heard  his  low  whisper ;  "  this  seems  to 
be  truly  a  day  rich  in  grace  and  peace.  That 
poor  man  yonder,  whom  I  found  half  frozen 
by  the  way,  would  make  a  full  confession  to 
me  at  once,  before  he  followed  me  to  a  place 
of  shelter.  Do  as  he  has  done,  my  dark- 
U 


158  SIN  TRAM, 

browed  warrior,  and  delay  not  your  good 
purpose  for  one  instant." 

Thereupon  lie  left  the  room  with  the  cas- 
tellan, who  gave  a  sign  of  compliance,  but 
he  turned  back  to  say :  "  Sir  knight,  and 
your  esquire !  take  good  care  the  while  of 
my  sick  charge." 

Sintram  and  Rolf  did  according  to  the 
chaplain's  desire,  and  when  at  length  their 
cordials  made  the  pilgrim  open  his  eyes  once 
again,  the  young  knight  said  to  him  with  a 
friendly  smile  :  "  Do  you  see  ?  you  are  come 
to  visit  me  after  all.  Why  did  you  refuse 
me  when  a  few  nights  ago  I  asked  you  so 
earnestly  to  come?  Perhaps  I  may  have 
spoken  wildly  and  hastily.  Did  that  scare 
you  away  ?" 

A  sudden  expression  of  fear  came  over  the 
pilgrim's  countenance,  but  soon  he  again 
looked  up  at  Sintram  with  an  air  of  gentle 
humility,  saying  :  "  Oh  my  dear  lord,  I  am 
most  entirely  devoted  to  you — only  never 
speak  to  me  of  former  passages  between  you 
and  me.  I  am  terrified  whenever  you  do  it. 
For,  my  lord,  either  I  am  mad  and  have  for- 
gotten all  that  is  past,  or  that  being  has  met 
you  in  the  wood,  whom  I  look  upon  as  my 
all-powerful  twin-brother." 


AND  HIS  COMPANIONS.  159 

Siii  train  laid  his  hand  gently  on  the  pil- 
grim's mouth,  as  he  answered  :  "  Say  nothing 
more  about  that  matter.  I  most  willingly 
promise  to  be  silent." 

Neither  he  nor  Rolf  could  understand 
what  appeared  to  them  so  awful  in  the  whole 
matter ;  but  both  shuddered. 

After  a  short  pause,  the  pilgrim  said :  "  I 
would  rather  sing  you  a  song,  a  soft,  comfort- 
ing song.  Have  you  not  a  lute  here  ?" 

Rolf  fetched  one,  and  the  pilgrim,  half- 
raising  himself  on  the  couch,  sang  the  fol- 
lowing words : 

"  When  death  is  coming  near, 
When  thy  heart  shrinks  in  fear, 

And  thy  limbs  fail, 
Then  raise  thy  hands  and  pray 
To  him  who  smooths  thy  way 

Through  the  dark  vale. 

Seest  thou  the  eastern  dawn, 
Hear'st  thou  in  the  red  morn 

The  angel's  song  ? 
O  lift  thy  drooping  head, 
Thou  who  in  gloom  and  dread 

Hast  lain  so  long. 

Death  comes  to  set  thee  free, 
0  meet  him  cheerily 
As  thy  true  friend, 


160  SlNTRAM, 

And  all  thy  fears  shall  cease, 
And  in  eternal  peace 
Thy  penance  end." 


"  Amen,"  said  Sintrarn  and  Rolf,  folding 
their  hands ;  and  whilst  the  last  chords  of 
the  lute  still  resounded,  the  chaplain  and  the 
castellan  came  slowly  and  gently  into  the 
room.  "  I  bring  a  precious  Christmas  gift," 
said  the  priest.  "After  many  sad  years, 
hope  of  reconciliation  and  peace  of  con- 
science are  returning  to  a  noble,  but  long 
disturbed  mind.  This  concerns  you,  beloved 
pilgrim ;  and  do  you,  my  Sintram,  with  a 
joyful  trust  in  God,  take  encouragement  and 
example  from  it." 

"  More  than  twenty  years  ago."  began 
the  castellan,  at  a  sign  from  the  chaplain, 
"  more  than  twenty  years  ago  I  was  a  stout 
and  active  herdsman,  and  I  drove  my  flock 
up  the  mountains.  A  young  knight  follow- 
ed me,  whom  they  called  Weigand  the  Slen- 
der. He  wanted  to  buy  of  me  my  favorite 
little  lamb  for  his  fair  bride,  and  offered  me 
much  red  gold  for  it.  I  sturdily  refused. 
The  over-boldness  of  youth  carried  us  both 
away.  A  stroke  of  his  sword  hurled  me 
senseless  down  the  precipice." 


AND  HIS  COMPANIONS.  161 

killed  ?"  asked   the  pilgrim,  in  a 
scarcely  audible  voice. 

UI  am  no  ghost,"  replied  the  castellan, 
somewhat  morosely  ;  and  then,  after  an 
earnest  look  from  the  priest,  he  continued, 
more  humbly  :  "I  recovered  slowly  arid  in 
solitude,  with  the  help  of  remedies  which 
were  easily  found  by  me,  a  herdsman,  in 
our  productive  valleys.  AY  hen  I  came  back 
into  the  world,  no  man  knew  me  with  my 
scarred  face,  and  my  head  which  had  be- 
come bald.  I  heard  a  report  going  through 
the  country,  that,  on  account  of  this  deed  of 
his,  Sir  Weigand  the  Slender  had  been  re- 
jected by  his  fair  betrothed  Yerena,  and 
how  he  had  pined  away,  and  she  had  wish- 
ed to  retire  into  a  convent,  but  her  father 
had  persuaded  her  to  marry  the  great  knight 
Biorn.  Then  there  came  a  fearful  thirst  for 
vengeance  into  my  heart,  and  I  disowned 
my  name  and  my  kindred,  and  my  home, 
and  entered  the  service  of  the  mighty  Biorn 
as  a  strange  wild  man,  in  order  that  Weigand 
the  Slender  should  always  be  deemed  a  mur- 
derer, and  that  I  might  feed  on  his  anguish. 
So  have  I  fed  upon  it  for  all  these  long  years. 
I  have  reveled  frightfully  in  his  self-imposed 
banishment,  in  his  cheerless  return  home,  in 
14' 


162  SlNTBAM 

his  madness.  But  to-day  " — and  hot  tears 
gushed  from  his  eyes — "  but  to-day  God  has 
broken  the  hardness  of  my  heart ;  and  dear 
Sir  Weigand,  look  upon  yourself  no  more 
as  a  murderer,  and  say  that  you  will  forgive 
me,  and  pray  for  him  who  has  done  you  so 
fearful  an  injury,  and"  —  sobs  choked  his 
words.  He  fell  at  the  feet  of  the  pilgrim, 
who  with  tears  of  joy  pressed  him  to  his 
heart,  in  token  of  forgiveness. 


AND  HIS   COMPANIONS.  163 


CHAPTER  XXI. 

THE  joy  of  the  hour  passed  from  its  first 
overpowering  brightness,  to  the  calm, 
thoughtful  aspect  of  daily  life,  and  Weigand, 
now  restored  to  health,  laid  aside  the  mantle 
with  dead  men's  bones,  saying:  "I  had 
chosen  for  my  penance  to  carry  these  fearful 
remains  about  me,  in  the  idea  that  perhaps 
some  of  them  might  have  belonged  to  him 
whom  I  have  murdered.  Therefore  I  used 
to  search  for  them  round  about  in  the  deep 
beds  of  the  mountain  torrents,  and  in  the 
high  nests  of  the  eagles  and  vultures.  And 

o  o 

while  I  was  searching,  I  sometimes — could  it 
have  been  only  an  illusion? — I  seemed  to 
meet  a  being  who  was  very  like  myself,  but 
far,  far  more  powerful,  and  yet  still  paler  and 
more  haggard." — An  imploring  look  from 
Sintram  stopped  the  flow  of  his  words.  TVith 
a  gentle  smile,  TVeigand  bowed  towards  him, 
and  said :  "  You  know  now  all  the  deep,  un- 
utterably deep  sorrow  which  prayed  upon 
me.  My  fear  of  you,  and  my  yearning  love 


1  64.  S  I  H  T  R  A  M  , 

for  you,  are  no  longer  without  explanation 
to  your  kind  heart.  For,  dear  youth,  though 
you  may  be  like  your  fearful  father,  you  have 
also  the  kind  gentle  heart  of  your  mother, 
and  its  reflection  brightens  your  pallid,  stern 
features,  like  the  glow  of  a  morning  sky 
which  lights  up  ice-covered  mountains  and 
valleys.  But  alas !  how  long  have  you  lived 
alone  even  amidst  your  fellow-creatures ! 
And  how  long  is  it  since  you  have  seen 
your  mother,  my  dearly-loved  Sintram  ?" 

"  I  feel,  too,  as  though  a  spring  were  gush- 
ing up  in  the  barren  wilderness  of  my  heart," 
replied  the  youth ;  "and  I  should  perchance 
be  altogether  restored,  could  I  but  keep  you 
long  with  me,  and  weep  with  you,  dear 
friend.  But  I  have  that  within  me  which 
says  that  you  will  very  soon  be  taken  from 
me." 

"  I  believe,  indeed,"  said  the  pilgrim,  "  that 
my  song  the  other  day  was  very  nearly  my 
last,  and  that  it  contained  a  prediction  full 
soon  to  be  accomplished  in  me.  But,  as  the 
soul  of  man  is  always  like  the  thirsty  ground, 
the  more  blessings  God  has  bestowed  on  us, 
the  more  earnestly  do  we  look  out  for  new 
ones,  so  would  I  crave  for  one  more  ere  my 
life  closes,  as  I  would  fain  hope,  in  happi- 


AXD   HIS   COMPANIONS.  165 

ness.  Yet  indeed  it  cannot  be  granted  me," 
added  he  with  a  faltering  voice,  "  for  I  feel 
myself  too  utterly  unworthy  of  such  high 
grace." 

"  But  it  will  be  granted  !"  said  the  chap- 
lain joyfully.  "  He  that  humbleth  himself 
shall  be  exalted,  and  I  fear  not  to  take  him 
who  is  now  cleared  from  the  stain  of  murder, 
to  receive  a  farewell  from  the  holy  and  for- 
giving countenance  of  Yerena." 

The  pilgrim  stretched  both  his  hands  up 
towards  Heaven,  and  an  unspoken  thanks- 
giving seemed  to  pour  from  his  beaming 
eyes,  and  to  brighten  the  smile  that  played 
on  his  lips. 

Sin  tram  looked  sorrowfully  on  the  ground, 
and  sighed  gently  to  himself:  "Alas!  happy 
he  who  dared  go  also !" 

"  My  poor,  good  Sintram,"  said  the  chap- 
lain in  a  tone  of  the  softest  kindness,  "  I  un- 
derstand you  well,  but  the  time  is  not  yet 
come.  The  powers  of  Evil  will  again  raise 
up  their  wrathful  heads  within  you,  and 
Yerena  must  check  both  her  own  and  your 
longing  desires,  until  all  is  pure  in  your  spirit 
as  in  hers.  Comfort  yourself  with  the  thought 
that  God  looks  mercifully  upon  you,  and  that 


1AG  SlNTRAM, 

the  joy  so  earnestly  sought  for,  will  not  fail 
to  come — if  not  here,  most  assuredly  beyond 
the  grave." 

But  the  pilgrim,  as  though  awaking  out  of 
a  trance,  rose  with  energy  from  his  seat,  and 
seCid :  u  Do  you  please  to  come  forth  with 
me,  reverend  chaplain  ?  Before  the  sun  ap- 
pears in  the  heavens,  we  could  reach  the 
convent-gates,  and  I  should  not  be  far  from 
Heaven." 

In  vain  did  the  chaplain  and  Rolf  remind 
hun  of  his  weakness :  he  smiled,  and  said 
that  there  could  be  no  question  about  it,  and 
he  girded  himself,  and  tuned  the  lute  which 
he  had  asked  leave  to  take  with  him.  His 
decided  manner  overcame  all  opposition,  al- 
most without  words :  and  the  chaplain  had 
already  prepared  himself  for  the  journey, 
when  the  pilgrim  looked  with  much  emotion 
at  Sintram,  who,  oppressed  with  a  strange 
weariness,  had  sunk  half  asleep  on  a  couch, 
and  he  said:  "Wait  a  moment.  I  know 
that  he  wants  me  to  give  him  a  soft  lullaby." 
The  pleased  smile  of  the  youth  seemed  to  say 
yes,  and  the  pilgrim,  touching  the  strings 
with  a  light  hand,  sang  these  words : — 


AND    HIS    COMPANIONS.  167 

"  Sleep  peacefully,  dear  boy, 

Thy  mother  sends  the  song 
That  whispers  round  thy  couch, 

To  lull  thee  all  night  long. 
In  silence  and  afar, 

For  thee  she  ever  prays, 
And  longs  once  more  in  fondness 

Upon  thy  face  to  gaze. 

And  when  thy  waking  cometh, 

Then  in  thy  every  deed, 
In  all  that  may  betide  thee, 

Unto  her  words  give  heed. 
0  listen  for  her  voice, 

If  it  be  yea  or  nay, 
And  though  temptation  meet  thee, 

Thou  shalt  not  miss  the  way. 

If  thou  canst  listen  rightly, 

And  nobly  onward  go, 
Then  pure  and  gentle  breezes 

Around  thy  cheeks  shall  blow. 
Then  on  thy  peaceful  journey 

Her  blessing  thou  shalt  feel, 
And  though  from  thee  divided, 

Her  presence  o'er  thee  steal. 

O  safest,  sweetest  comfort ! 

O  blest  and  living  light ! 
That  strong  in  Heaven's  power 

All  terrors  put  to  flight  1 
Rest  quietly,  sweet  child, 

And  may  the  gentle  numbers 
Thy  mother  sends  to  thee 

Waft  peace  unto  thy  slumbers." 


168  Si  NT  RAM, 

Sintram  fell  into  a  deep  sleep,  smiling  and 
breathing  softly.  Rolf  and  the  castellan  re- 
mained by  his  bed,  whilst  the  two  travellers 
pursued  their  way  in  the  quiet  starlight. 


AND   HIS   COMPANIONS.  169 


CHAPTER   XXII. 

T^HE  dawn  had  almost  appeared,  when 
Rolf,  who  had  been  asleep,  was  awoke 
by  low  singing ;  and  as  he  looked  round,  he 
perceived  with  surprise  that  the  sounds  came 
from  the  lips  of  the  castellan,  who  said,  as  if 
in  explanation :  "  So  does  Sir  Weigand  sing 
at  the  convent-gates,  and  they  are  kindly 
opened  to  him."  Upon  which  old  Rolf  fell 
asleep  again,  uncertain  whether  what  had 
passed  had  been  a  dream  or  a  reality.  Af- 
ter awhile  the  bright  sunshine  awoke  him 
again,  and  when  he  rose  up  he  saw  the  coun- 
tenance of  the  castellan  wonderfully  illumin- 
ated by  the  red  light  of  the  morning  sun, 
and  altogether  those  features,  once  so  fear- 
ful, were  shining  with  a  soft,  nay,  almost 
child-like  mildness  of  expression.  The  mys- 
terious man  seemed  to  be  the  while  listening 
to  the  motionless  air,  as  if  he  were  hearing 
a  most  pleasant  discourse ;  and  as  Rolf  was 
about  to  speak  he  made  him  a  sign  of  en- 
treaty to  remain  quiet,  and  he  continued  in 
his  eager,  listening  attitude. 
15 


170  Si  NT  RAM 

At  length  he  sank  slowly  and  contentedly- 
back  in  his  seat,  whispering :  "  God  be 
praised  !  She  has  granted  his  last  prayer  ; 
he  will  be  laid  in  the  burial-ground  of  the 
convent,  and  now  he  has  forgiven  me  from 
the  bottom  of  his  heart.  I  can  assure  you 
that  he  is  having  a  peaceful  end." 

Rolf  did  not  dare  ask  a  question,  or  awake 
his  lord  ;  he  felt  as  if  one  already  departed 
had  spoken  to  him. 

The  castellan  remained  still  for  a  long 
space  of  time,  always  with  a  bright  smile  on 
his  face.  At  last  he  raised  himself  up  a 
little,  again  listened,  and  said  :  "  It  is  over. 
The  sound  of  the  bells  is  very  sweet.  We 
have  overcome.  Oh !  how  soft  and  easy 
does  the  good  God  make  it  to  us !"  And  so 
it  came  to  pass.  He  stretched  himself  back 
as  if  weary,  and  his  soul  was  freed  from  his 
care-worn  body. 

Rolf  now  gently  awoke  his  young  knight, 
and  pointed  to  the  smiling  face  of  the  dead. 
And  Sintram  smiled  too ;  he  and  his  good 
esquire  fell  on  their  knees  and  prayed  to  God 
for  the  departed  spirit.  Then  they  rose  up, 
and  bore  the  cold  body  to  the  vaulted  hall, 
and  watched  by  it  with  holy  candles  until  the 
return  of  the  chaplain.  That  the  pilgrim 


AND    HIS    COMPANIONS.  171 

would  not  come  back  again,  they  very  well 
knew. 

Towards  mid-day,  accordingly,  the  chap- 
lain returned  alone.  He  could  scarcely  do 
more  than  confirm  what  was  already  known 
to  them.  He  only  added  a  comforting  and 
hopeful  greeting  from  Sintram's  mother  to 
her  son,  and  told  that  the  blissful  Weigand 
had  fallen  asleep  like  a  tired  child,  whilst 
Yerena  with  calm  tenderness  held  a  crucifix 
before  him. 

"  And  in  eternal  peace  our  penance  end  1" 

sang  Sintram  gently  to  himself,  and  they 
prepared  a  last  resting-place  for  the  now 
so  peaceful  castellan,  and  laid  him  therein 
with  all  the  due  solemn  rites. 

The  chaplain  was  obliged  soon  afterwards 
to  depart,  but  when  bidding  Sintram  fare- 
well, he  again  said  kindly  to  him,  "Your 
dear  mother  knows  assuredly  how  gentle  and 
calm  and  good  you  are  now  become !" 


172  SlNTRAM, 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 

IK  the  castle  of  Sir  Biorn  of  the  Fiery- 
Eyes,  Christmas  eve  had  not  passed  so 
brightly  and  happily,  but  yet  there  too  all 
had  gone  visibly  according  to  God's  will. 

Folko,  at  the  entreaty  of  the  lord  of  the 
castle,  had  allowed  Gabrielle  to  support  him 
into  the  hall,  and  the  three  now  sat  at  the 
round  stone-table  whereon  a  sumptuous  meal 
was  laid.  On  either  side,  there  were  long 
tables,  at  which  sat  the  retainers  of  both 
knights,  in  full  armor,  according  to  the  cus- 
tom of  the  north.  Torches  and  lamps  lighted 
the  lofty  hall  with  an  almost  dazzling  bright- 
ness. 

The  deepest  shades  of  night  had  now 
gathered  around,  and  Gabrielle  softly  re- 
minded her  wounded  knight  to  withdraw. 
Biorn  heard  her  and  said,  "  You  are  right, 
fab-  lady,  our  knight  needs  rest.  Only  let 
us  first  keep  up  one  more  old  honorable 
custom." 

And  at  his  sign  four  attendants  brought  in 
with  pomp  a  great  boar's  head,  which  looked 


AND    HIS    COMPANIONS.  173 

as  if  cut  out  of  solid  gold,  and  placed  it  in 
the  middle  of  the  stone-table.  Biorn's  re- 
tainers rose  with  reverence,  and  took  off  their 
helmets ;  Biorn  himself  did  the  same. 

"What  means  this?"  asked  Folko  very 
gravely. 

"What  your  forefathers  and  mine  have 
done  on  every  Yule  Feast,"  answered  Biorn. 
"  We  are  going  to  make  vows  on  the  boar's 
head,  and  then  pass  the  goblet  round  to  their 
fulfilment." 

"  We  no  longer  keep  what  our  ancestors 
called  the  Yule  Feast,"  said  Folko ;  "  we  are 
good  Christians,  and  we  keep  holy  Christ- 
mas-tide." 

"  We  may  observe  the  one  without  leaving 
off  the  other,"  answered  Biorn.  "  I  hold  my 
ancestors  too  dear  to  forget  their  knightly 
customs.  Those  who  think  otherwise  may 
act  according  to  their  wisdom,  but  that  shall 
not  hinder  me.  I  swear  by  the  golden  boar's- 

head" And  he  stretched  out  his  hand 

towards  it. 

But  Folko  called  out,  "  In  the  Name  of 
our  Holy  Saviour,  forbear.  Where  I  am, 
and  still  have  breath  and  will,  none  cele- 
brate the  rites  of  the  wild  heathens." 

Biorn  of  the  Fiery  Eyes  glared  angrily  at 
15* 


It  4-  SlNTRAM, 

him.  The  men  of  the  two  barons  separated 
from  each  other,  with  a  hollow  sound  of  rat- 
tling armor,  and  ranged  themselves  in  two 
bodies  on  either  side  qf  the  hall,  each  behind 
its  leader.  Already  here  and  there  helmets 
.were  fastened  and  visors  closed. 

"  Bethink  thee  yet  what  thou  art  doing," 
said  Biorn.  "  I  was  about  to  vow  an  eternal 
union  with  the  house  of  Montfaugon,  nay, 
even  to  bind  myself  to  do  it  grateful  homage, 
but  if  thou  disturbest  me  in  the  customs 
which  have  come  to  me  from  my  forefathers, 
look  to  thy  safety,  and  the  safety  of  all  that 
is  dear  to  thee.  My  wrath  no  longer  knows 
any  bounds." 

Folko  made  a  sign  to  the  pale  Gabrielle  to 
retire  behind  his  followers,  saying  to  her: 
"  Be  of  good  cheer,  my  noble  wife,  weaker 
Christians  have  borne,  for  the  sake  of  God 
and  of  His  holy  Church,  greater  dangers 
than  now  seem  to  threaten  us.  Believe  me, 
the  lord  of  Montfaugon  is  not  so  easily  over- 
come." 

Gabrielle  obeyed,  something  comforted  by 
Folko's  fearless  smile,  but  this  smile  inflamed 
yet  more  the  fury  of  Biorn.  He  again 
stretched  out  his  hand  towards  the  boar's 
head,  as  if  about  to  make  some  dreadful 


AND    HIS    COMPANIONS.  175 

vow,  when  Folko  snatched  a  gauntlet  of 
Biorn's  off  the  table,- with  which  he,  with  his 
r.nwounded  left  arm,  struck  such  a  powerful 
"blow  on  the  gilt  idol  that  it  fell  crashing  to 
the  ground,  shivered  to  pieces.  Biorn  and 
his  followers  stood  as  if  turned  to  stone. 
But  soon  swords  were  grasped  by  armed 
hands,  shields  were  taken  down  from  the 
walls,  and  an  angry  threatening  murmur 
sounded  through  the  hall. 

At  a  sign  from  Folko,  one  of  his  faithful 
retainers  brought  him  a  battle-axe  ;  he 
swung  it  high  in  the  air  with*  his  powerful 
left  hand,  and  he  stood  looking  like  an 
avenging  angel  as  he  spoke  these  words 
through  the  tumult  with  awful  calmness: 
"  What  seek  ye,  O  ye  deluded  Northmen  ? 
What  wouldst  thou,  sinful  lord?  You  are 
indeed  become  heathens,  and  I  hope  to  show 
you  that  it  is  not  in  my  right  arm  alone  that 
God  has  put  strength  for  victory.  But  if 
you  can  yet  hear,  listen  to  my  words.  Biorn, 
on  this  same  accursed,  and  now,  by  God's 
help,  shivered  boar's  head,  thou  didst  lay  thy 
hand  when  thou  didst  swear  to  sacrifice  any 
inhabitants  of  the  German  towns  that  should 
fall  into  thy  power.  And  Gotthard  Lenz 
came,  and  Rudlieb  came,  driven  on  these 


176  SlXTRAM, 

shores  by  the  storm.  "What  didst  thou  then 
do,  savage  Biom  ?  What  did  you  do  at  his 
bidding  you  who  were  keeping  the  Yule- 
feast  with  him  ?  Try  your  fortune  on  me. 
The  Lord  will  be  with  me  as  he  was  with 
those  holy  men.  To  arms !  and — (he  turned 
to  his  warriors) — let  our  battle-cry  be  Gott- 
hard  and  Kudlieb  !" 

Then  Biom  let  drop  his  drawn  sword ; 
then  his  followers  paused,  and  none  among 
the  Norwegians  dared  lift  his  eyes  from  the 
ground.  By  degrees  they  one  by  one  began 
to  disappear  from  the  hall ;  and  at  last  Biorn 
stood  quite  alone  opposite  to  the  baron  and 
his  followers.  He  seemed  hardly  aware  that 
he  had  been  deserted,  but  he  fell  on  his 
knees,  stretched  out  his  shining  sword, 
pointed  to  the  broken  boar's  head,  and  said, 
"  Do  with  me  as  you  have  done  with  that ; 
I  deserve  no  better.  I  ask  but  one  favor, 
only  one ;  do  not  disgrace  me,  noble  baron, 
by  seeking  shelter  in  another  castle  while 
you  remain  in  Norway." 

"  I  do  not  fear  you,"  answered  Folko,  after 
some  thought,  "  and  as  far  as  may  be,  I  freely 
forgive  you."  Then  he  drew  the  sign  of  the 
Cross  over  the  wild  form  of  Biorn,  and  left 
the  hall  with  Gabrielle.  The  retainers  of  the 


AND    HIS    COMPANIONS.  177 

house  of  Montfaujon  followed  him  proudly 
and  silently. 

The  high  spirit  of  the  fierce  lord  of  the 
castle  was  now  quite  broken,  and  he  watched 
•with  increased  humility  every  look  of  Folko 
and  Gabrielle.  But  they  withdrew  more 
and  more  into  the  happy  solitude  of  their 
own  apartments,  where  they  enjoyed  in  the 
midst  of  the  sharp  winter  a  bright  springtide 
of  love  and  happiness.  The  wounded  con- 
dition of  Folko  did  not  hinder  the  evening 
delights  of  songs  and  music  and  poetry — but 
rather  a  new  charm  was  added  to  them  when 
the  tall,  handsome  knight  leant  on  the  arm 
of  his  delicate  lady,  and  they  thus,  changing 
as  it  were  their  deportment  and  duties, 
walked  slowly  through  the  torch-lit  halls, 
scattering  their  kindly  greetings  like  flowers 
among  the  crowds  of  men  and  women. 

All  this  time  little  or  nothing  was  heard  of 
poor  Sintram.  The  last  wild  outbreak  of  his 
father  had  increased  the  terror  with  which 
Gabrielle  remembered  the  self-accusations  of 
the  youth;  and  the  more  resolutely  Folko 
kept  silence,  the  more  did  she  fear  that  some 
dreadful  mystery  lay  beneath.  Indeed  a 
secret  shudder  came  over  the  knight  when 
he  thought  on  the  pale,  dark-haired  youth. 


178  SiNTRAM, 

Sintram's  repentance  had  bordered  on  set- 
tled despair ;  no  one  knew  even  what  he  was 
doing  in  the  fortress  of  Evil-Report  on  the 
Rocks  of  the  Moon.  Strange  rumors  were 
brought  by  the  retainers  who  had  fled  from 
it,  that  the  Evil  Spirit  had  obtained  complete 
power  over  Sintram,  that  no  man  could  stay 
with  him,  and  that  the  fidelity  of  the  dark 
and  mysterious  castellan  had  cost  him  his 
life. 

Folko  could  hardly  drive  away  the  fearful 
imagination  that  the  lonely  young  knight 
was  become  a  wicked  magician. 

And  perhaps  indeed  evil  spirits  did  flit 
about  the  banished  Sintram,  but  it  was  with- 
out his  calling  them  up.  In  his  dreams  he 
often  saw  the  wicked  enchantress  Yeuus,  in 
her  golden  chariot  drawn  by  winged  cats, 
pass  over  the  battlements  of  the  stone  fort- 
ress, and  heard  her  say,  mocking  him :  "  Eool- 
ish  Sintram,  foolish  Sintram,  hadst  thou  but 
listened  to  the  Little  Master's  words !  Thou 
wouldst  now  be  in  Helen's  arms,  and  the 
Rocks  of  the  Moon  would  be  called  the 
Rocks  of  Love,  and  the  stone  fortress  would 
be  the  garden  of  roses.  Thou  wouldst  have 
lost  thy  pale  face  and  black  tangled  hair, — 
for  thou  art  only  enchanted,  dear  youth, — 


AND    HIS    COMPANIONS.  179 

and  thine  eyes  would  have  beamed  more 
softly,  and  thy  cheeks  bloomed  more  freshly, 
'and  thy  hair  would  have  been  more  golden 
than  that  of  prince  Paris,  when  men  won- 
dered at  his  beauty.  Oh  !  how  Helen  would 
have  loved  thee!"  Then  she  showed  him, 
in  a  mirror,  his  own  figure  kneeling  before 
Gabrielle,  who  sank  into  his  arms  blushing 
as  the  morning.  When  he  awoke  from  such 
dreams,  he  would  seize  in  eager  haste  the 
sword  and  scarf  which  his  lady  had  given 
him,  as  a  shipwrecked  man  seizes  the  plank 
which  is  to  save  him,  and  while  the  hot  tears 
fell  upon  it,  he  would  murmur  to  himself: 
"  There  was  indeed  one  hour  in  my  sad  life 
when  I  was  happy,  and  deserved  it." 

Once  he  sprang  up  at  midnight,  after  one 
of  these  dreams,  only  this  time  with  a  more 
thrilling  horror  than  usual ;  for  it  had  seemed 
to  him  that  the  features  of  the  Enchantress 
Yenus  had  changed  towards  the  end  of  her 
speech,  as  she  looked  down  upon  him  with 
marvelous  scorn,  and  she  appeared  to  him 
almost  to  assume  those  of  the  hideous  Little 
Master.  The  youth  had  no  better  means  of 
calming  his  distracted  mind  than  to  throw 
the  sword  and  scarf  of  Gabrielle  over  his 
shoulders,  and  to  hasten  forth  under  the  sol- 


180  S  I  NTRAlf,   ' 

emn  starry  canopy  of  the  wintry  sky.  He 
walked  in  deep  thought  backwards  and  for- 
wards under  the  leafless  oaks,  and  the  snow- 
laden  firs,  which  grew  on  the  high  ramp- 
arts. 

Then  he  heard  a  sorrowful  cry  of  distress 
sound  from  the  moat ;  it  was  as  if  some  one 
were  attempting  to  sing,  but  was  stopped  by 
excess  of  grief.  Sintram  exclaimed,  "Who's 
there?"  and  all  was  still.  When  he  was 
silent  and  again  began  his  walk,  the  fright- 
ful groanings  and  moanings  were  heard 
afresh,  as  if  they  came  from  a  dying  person. 
Sintram  overcame  the  horror  which  seemed 
to  hold  him  back,  and  began  in  silence  to 
climb  down  into  the  deep  dry  moat,  which 
was  cut  in  the  rock.  He  was  soon  so  low 
down  that  he  could  no  longer  see  the  stars 
shining  ;  he  saw  a  shrouded  form  move  be- 
neath him, — and  sliding  rapidly  down  the 
remainder  of  the  steep  descent,  he  stood  near 
the  groaning  figure ;  it  ceased  it^  lamenta- 
tions, and  began  to  laugh  like  a  maniac  from 
beneath  its  long  folded  female  garments. 

"  Oh,  ho,  my  comrade  !  Oh,  ho,  my  com- 
rade !  You  are  now  going  a  little  too  fast : 
well,  well,  it  is  all  right :  and  see  now,  you 
stand  no  higher  than  I,  my  pious  valiant 


AND.HIS   COMPANIONS.  18, 

youth !  Take  it  patiently, — take  it  pa- 
tiently !" 

"  What  do  you  want  with  me  ?  "Why  do 
you  laugh  ?  why  do  you  weep  1"  asked  Sin- 
tram  impatiently. 

*•  I  might  ask  you  the  same  question,"  an- 
swered the  dark  figure,  "  and  you  would  be 
less  able  to  answer  me,  than  I  to  answer  you. 
Why  do  you  laugh  ?  why  do  you  weep  ? — 
Poor  creature !  But  I  will  show  you  a  re- 
markable thing  in  your  fortress,  of  which 
you  know  nothing.  Give  heed  !" 

And  the  shrouded  figure  began  to  scratch 
and  scrape  at  the  stones  till  a  little  iron  door 
opened,  and  showed  a  long  passage  which 
led  into  the  deep  darkness. 

"  Will  you  come  with  me  ?''  whispered  the 
strange  being :  "  it  is  the  shortest  way  to 
your  father's  castle. '  In  half  an  hour  we 
shall  come  out  of  this  passage,  and  we  shall 
be  in  your  beauteous  lady's  apartment. 
King  Menelaus  shall  lie  in  a  magic  sleep, — 
leave  that  to  me, — and  then  you  will  take 
the  slight  delicate  form  in  your  arms,  and 
you  will  bring  her  to  the  Rocks  of  the  Moon  ; 
so  you  will  recover  all  that  you  lost  by  your 
former  waverinsr." 

o 

Then  Sintram  might  have  been  seen  to 
16 


182  SiNTRAM,      . 

stagger.  He  was  shaken  to  and  fro  by  the 
fever  of  passion  .and  the  stings  of  conscience ; 
but  at  last  pressing  the  sword  and  scarf  to 
his  heart,  he  cried  out :  "  Oh !  that  fairest 
most  glorious  hour  of  my  life !  If  I  lose  all 
other  joys,  I  will  hold  fast  that  brightest 
hour !" 

"  A  bright,  glorious  hour  !"  said  the  figure 
from  under  its  veil,  like  an  evil  echo.  "  Do 
you  know  whom  you  then  conquered  ?  A 
good  old  friend,  who  only  showed  himself  so 
sturdy  in  order  to  give  you  the  glory  of  over- 
coming him.  Will  you  convince  yourself? 
Will  you  look  ?" 

The  dark  garments  of  the  little  figure  flew 
open,  and  Sintram  saw  the  dwarf  warrior  in 
strange  armor  with  the  gold  horn  on  his  hel- 
met, and  the  curved  spear  in  his  hand ;  the 
very  same  whom  Sintram  thought  he  had 
slain  on  Kiflung's  Heath,  now  stood  before 
him,  and  grinned  as  he  said  :  "  You  see,  my 
friend,  everything  in  the  wide  world  is  made 
up  of  dreams  and  froth ;  wherefore  hold  fast 
the  dream  which  delights  you,  and  sip  up 
the  froth  which  refreshes  you?  Hasten  to 
that  underground  passage,  it  leads  up  to 
your  angel  Helen.  Or  would  you  first  know 
your  friend  yet  better  ?" 


AND    HIS    COMPANIONS.  133 

His  visor  opened,  and  the  hateful  face  of 
the  Little  Master  glared  upon  the  knight. 
Sintram  asked,  as  if  in  a  dream :  "  Art  thou 
also  that  wicked  enchantress  Venus  ?'' 

"  Something  like  her,"  answered  the  Little 
Master,  laughing,  "  or  rather  she  is  some- 
thing like  me.  And  if  you  will  only  get 
disenchanted,  and  recover  the  beauty  of 
prince  Paris, — then,  O  prince  Paris,"  and 
his  voice  changed  to  an  alluring  song,  "  then, 
O  prince  Paris,  I  shall  be  fair  like  you !" 

At,  this  moment  the  good  Rolf  appeared 
above  on  the  rampart ;  a  consecrated  taper 
in  his  lantern  shone  down  into  the  moat,  as 
he  sought  for  the  young  knight.  "  In  God's 
name,  Sir  Sintram,"  he  called  out^  "what 
have  you  to  do  there  with  the  spectre  of  him 
whom  you  slew  on  Kiflung's  Heath,  and 
whom  I  never  could  bury  ?" 

"  Do  you  see  ?  do  you  hear  ?"  whispered 
the  Little  Master,  and  drew  back  into  the 
darkness  of  the  underground  passage.  "  The 
wise  man  up  there  knows  me  well.  You  see 
your  heroic  feat  came  to  nothing.  Come, 
take  the  joys  of  life  while  you  may  !" 

But  Sintram  sprang  back  with  a  strong 
effort  into  the  circle  of  light  made  by  the 
shining  of  the  taper  from  above,  and  cried 


134  Six  TRAM, 

out :  "  Depart  from  ine,  unquiet  spirit !  I 
know  well  that  I  bear  a  name  on  me,  in 
which  thou  canst  have  no  part." 

Little  Master  rushed,  in  fear  and  rage,  into 
the  passage,  and,  yelling,  shut  the  iron  door 
behind  him.  It  seemed  as  if  he  could  be 
still  heard  groaning  and  roaring. 

Sintram  climbed  up  the  wall  of  the  moat, 
and  made  a  sign  to  his  foster-father  not  to 
speak  to  him — he  only  said :  "  One  of  my 
best  joys,  yes,  the  very  best,  has  been  taken 
from  me — but  by  God's  help,  I  am  not  yet 
wholly  lost." 

In  the  earliest  light  of  the  following  morn- 
ing he  and  Rolf  stopped  up  the  entrance  to 
the  perilous  passage  with  huge  blocks  of 
stone. 


AND    HIS    COMPANIONS.  185 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 

THE  long  northern  winter  was  at  last 
ended ;  the  fresh,  green  leaves  rustled 
merrily  in  the  woods,  patches  of  soft  moss 
appeared  amongst  the  rocks,  the  valleys  were 
clothed  with  grass,  the  brooks  sparkled,  the 
snow  melted  from  all  but  the  highest  moun- 
tain-tops, and  the  bark  which  was  ready  to 
carry  away  Folko  and  Gabrielle  danced  on 
the  sunny  waves.  The  baron,  who  was  now 
quite  recovered,  and  strong  and  fresh  as 
though  his  health  had  sustained  no  injury, 
stood  one  morning  on  the  shore  with  his  fair 
lady,  and,  full  of  glee  at  the  prospect  of  re- 
turning to  their  home,  the  noble  pair  looked 
on  wrth  satisfaction  at  their  attendants,  who 
were  busied  in  the  ship  with  preparations 
for  the  voyage. 

Then  said  one  of  them,  in  the  midst  of  a 
confused  sound  of  talking  :  "  But  what  has 
appeared  to  me  the  most  fearful  and  the  most 
strange  thing  in  this  northern  land,  is  the 
stone  fortress  on  the  Rocks  of  the  Moon  :  I 
have  never  indeed  been  inside  it,  but  when 


186  SIXTH AM, 

I  used  to  see  it  in  our  huntings,  towering 
above  the  tall  fir-trees,  there  came  a  tight- 
ness over  my  breast,  as  if  some  unearthly 
beings  were  dwelling  in  it.  And  a  few 
weeks  ago,  when  the  snow  was  yet  lying 
hard  in  the  valleys,  I  came  unawares  quite 
close  upon  the  strange  building.  The  young 
knight  Sintrarn  was  walking  alone  on  the 
ramparts  as  the  shades  of  twilight  stole  on, 
like  the  spirit  of  a  departed  knight,  and  he 
drew  from  the  lute  which  he  carried  such 
soft  melancholy  tones,  and  he  sighed  so  deep- 
ly and  sorrowfully — " 

The  voice  of  the  speaker  was  drowned  in 
the  noise  of  the  crowd,  and  as  he  also  just 
then  reached  the  ship  with  his  package, 
which  had  been  hastily  fastened  up,  Folko 
and  Gabrielle  could  not  hear  the  rest  of  his 
speech.  But  the  fair  lady  looked  on  her 
knight  with  eyes  dim  with  tears,  and  sighed : 
"  Is  it  not  behind  those  mountains  that  the 
Eocks  of  the  Moon  lie  ?  The  unhappy  Sin- 
tram  makes  me  sad  at  heart." 

"  I  understand  you,  sweet  gracious  lady, 
and  the  pure  compassion  which  fills  your 
heart,"  replied  Folko,  and  instantly  ordered 
his  swift-footed  steed  to  be  brought.  He 
placed  his  noble  lady  under  the  charge  of 


AND    HIS    COMPANIONS.  187 

his  retainers,  and  leaping  into  the  saddle,  he 
pursued  his  way,  fullowe'd  by  the  grateful, 
smiles  of  Gabrielle,  along  the  valley  which, 
led  towards  the  stone  fortress. 

Sintram  was  seated  near  the  drawbridge, 
touching  the  strings  of  the  lute,  and  shed- 
ding some  tears  on  the  golden  chords,  almost 
exactly  as  Montfaugon's  esquires  had  de- 
scribed him.  Suddenly  a  cloudy  shadow 
passed  over  him,  and  he  looked  up,  expect- 
ing to  see  a  flight  of  cranes  in  the  air  ;  but 
the  sky  was  clear  and  blue.  While  the 
young  knight  was  still  wondering,  a  long 
bright  spear  fell  at  his  feet  from  a  battle- 
ment of  the  armory  turret.  "  Take  it  up, — 
make  good  use  of  it !  your  foe  is  near  at 
hand  !  Near  also  is  the  downfall  of  your 
cherished  hopes  of  happiness !"  Thus  he 
heard  it  distinctly  whispered  in  his  ear ;  and 
it  seemed  to  him  that  he  saw  the  shadow  of 
the  Little  Master  glide  close  by  him  to  a 
neighboring  cleft  in  the  rock.  But  at  the 
same  time,  also,  a  tall,  gigantic,  haggard 
ligure  passed  along  the  valley,  in  some  meas- 
ure like  the  departed  pilgrim,  only  much, 
very  much  larger ;  and  he  raised  his  long, 
bony  arm  with  an  awfully  threatening  air, 
then  disappeared  in  an  ancient  tomb. 


188  SlNTRAM, 

At  tlie  very  same  instant  Sir  Folko  of 
Montfaucon  came  swiftly  as  the  wind  np  the 
Rocks  of  the  Moon,  and  he  must  have  seen 
something  of  those  strange  apparitions  ;  for, 
as  he  stopped  close  behind  Sintram,  he 
looked  rather  pale,  and  he  asked  low  and 
earnestly:  "Sir  knight,  who  are  those  two 
with  whom  you  were  just  now  holding  con- 
verse here  ?" 

"  The  good  God  knows,"  answered  Sin- 
tram.  "  I  know  them  not." 

"  If  the  good  God  does  but  know !"  cried 
Montfaucon.  "  But  I  fear  me  that  he  knows 
you  not,  nor  your  deeds." 

'•  You  speak  strangely  harsh  words,"  said 
Sintram.  "Yet  ever  since  that  evening  of 
misery — alas  !  and  even  long  before — I  have 
no  right  to  complain  of  any  thing  you  may 
say  or  do.  Dear  sir,  you  may  believe  me,  I 
know  not  those  fearful  companions ;  I  call 
them  not;  and  I  know  not  what  terrible 
curse  it  is  which  binds  them  to  my  footsteps. 
The  merciful  God,  as  I  would  hope,  is  mind- 
ful of  me  the  while,  as  a  faithful  shepherd 
does  not  forget  even  the  worst  and  most 
widely-strayed  of  his  flock,  but  calls  after  it 
with  an  anxious  voice  in  the  gloomy  wilder- 
ness." 


AND   HIS    COMPANIONS.  189 

Then  the  anger  of  the  baron  was  quite 
melted.  The  tears  stood  in  his  eves,  and  he 
said  :  "IsTo,  assuredly,  God  has  not  forgotten 
yon  ;  only  do  yon  not  forget  your  gracious 
God.  I  did  not  come  to  rebuke  you — I  came 
to  bless  you  in  Gabrielle's  name  and  in  my 
own.  The  Lord  preserve  you,  the  Lord 
guide  you,  the  Lord  lift  you  up.  And,  Sin- 
tram,  on  the  far-off  shores  of  Normandy  I 
shall  bear  you  in  mind,  and  I  shall  hear  how 
you  struggle  against  the  curse  which  darkens 
your  unhappy  life ;  and  if  you  ever  obtain 
the  victory  over  it,  and  overcome  in  the  evil 
day,  then  you  shall  receive  from  me  a  token 
of  love  and  reward,  more  precious  than 
either  you  or  I  can  understand  at  this  mo- 
ment." 

The  words  flowed  prophetically  from  the 
baron's  lips ;  he  himself  was  only  half-con- 
scious of  what  he  said.  With  a  kind  saluta- 
tion he  turned  his  noble  steed,  and  again 
flew  down  the  valley  towards  the  sea- 
shore. 

"  Fool,  fool,  thrice  a  fool !"  whispered  the 
angry  voice  of  the  Little  Master  in  Sintram's 
ear;  but  old  Eolf  was  singing  his  morning 
hymn  in  clear  tones  within  the  castle,  and 
the  last  lines  were  these : 


190  SIXTRAM, 

"  Whom  worldlings  scorn, 
Who  lives  forlorn, 

On  Qod'a  own  word  doth  rest ; 
With  heavenly  light 
His  path  is  bright, 

His  lot  among  the  blest." 

Then  a  holy  joy  took  possession  of  Sin- 
tram's  heart ;  and  he  looked  around  him  yet 
more  gladly  than  in  the  hour  when  Gabrielle 
gave  him  the  scarf  and  sword,  and  Folko 
dubbed  him  knight. 


AND   HIS   COMPANIONS.  191 


CHAPTER    XXV. 

THE  baron  and  his  lovely  lady  were  sail- 
ing across  the  broad  sea  with  favoring 
gales  of  spring, — nay,  the  coast  of  Xormandy 
had  already  appeared  above  the  waves, — but 
still  was  Biorn  of  the  Fiery  Eyes  sitting 
gloomy  and  speechless  in  his  castle.  He  had 
taken  no  leave  of  his  guests.  There  was  more 
of  proud  fear  of  M  ontfaugon,  than  of  rever- 
ential love  for  him  in  his  soul,  especially 
since  the  adventure  with  the  boar's  head ; 
and  the  thought  was  bitter  to  his  haughty 
spirit,  that  the  great  baron,  the  flower  and 
glory  of  their  whole  race,  should  have  come 
in  peace  to  visit  him,  and  should  nov  be  de- 
parting in  displeasure,  in  stern  reproachful 
displeasure.  He  had  constantly  before  his 
mind,  and  it  never  failed  to  bring  fresh  pangs, 
the  remembrance  of  how  all  had  come  to 
pass,  and  how  all  might  have  gone  other- 
wise ;  and  he  was  always  fancying  he  could 
hear  the  songs  in  which  after-generations 
would  recount  this  voyage  of  the  great  Folko, 
and  the  worthlessness  of  the  savage  Biorn. 


192  SlNTRAM, 

At  length,  full  of  fierce  anger,  he  cast  away 
the  fetters  of  his  troubled  spirit,  he  burst  out 
of  the  castle  with  his  horsemen,  and  began 
to  carry  on  a  warfare  more  fearful  and  more 
lawless  than  any  in  which  he  had  yet  been 
engaged. 

Sintram  heard  the  sound  of  his  father's 
war-horn,  and  committing  the  stone  fortress 
to  old  Rolf,  he  sprang  forth  ready  armed  for 
the  combat.  But  the  flames  of  the  cottages 
and  farms  on  the  mountains  rose  up  before 
him,  and  showed  him,  written  as  if  in  char- 
acters of  fire,  what  kind  of  war  his  father 
was  waging.  Yet  he  went  on  towards  the 
spot  where  the  army  was  mustered,  but  only 
to  offer  his  mediation,  affirming  that  he  would 
not  lay  hand  on  his  good  sword  in  so  ab- 
horred a  service,  even  though  the  stone  fort- 
ress, and  his  father's  castle  besides,  should 
fall  before  the  vengeance  of  their  enemies. 
Biorn  hurled  the  spear  which  he  held  in  his 
hand  against  his  son  with  mad  fury.  The 
deadly  weapon  whizzed  past  him.  Sintram 
remained  standing  with  his  visor  raised,  he 
did  not  move  one  limb  in  his  defence,  when 
he  said :  "  Father  !  do  what  you  will ;  but  I 
join  not  in  your  godless  warfare." 

Biorn  of  the  Fiery  Eyes  laughed  scorn- 


AND    HIS    COMPANIONS.  193 

fully :  "  It  seems  that  I  am  always  to  have  a 
spy  over  me  here ;  my  son  succeeds  to  the 
dainty  French  knight!"  But  nevertheless 
he  came  to  himself,  he  accepted  Sintram's 
mediation,  made  amends  for  the  injuries  he 
had  done,  and  returned  gloomily  to  his 
castle.  Sintram  went  back  to  the  Rocks  of 
the  Moon. 

Such  occurrences  were  frequent  after  that 
time.  It  went  so  far  that  Sintram  came  to 
be  looked  upon  as  the  protector  of  all  those 
whom  his  father  pursued  with  relentless  fury ; 
but  nevertheless,  sometimes  his  own  wildness 
would  carry  the  young  knight  away  to  ac- 
company his  fierce  father  in  his  fearful 
deeds.  Then  Biorn  used  to  laugh  with  hor- 
rible pleasure,  and  to  say  :  "  See  there,  my 
son,  how  the  flames  we  have  lighted  blaze 
up  from  the  villages,  as  the  blood  spouts  up 
from  the  wounds  our  swords  have  made !  It 
is  plain  to  me,  however  much  you  may  pre- 
tend to  the  contrary,  that  you  are,  and  that 
you  will  ever  remain,  my  true  and  beloved 
heir !" 

After  such  terrible  wanderings,  Sintram 

could  find  no  comfort  but  in  hastening  to 

the  chaplain  of  Drontheim,  and  confessing 

to  him  his  misery  and  his  sins.     The  chap- 

17 


194  SlXTRAJI, 

lain  would  freely  absolve  him  after  due 
penance  Lad  been  performed,  and  again 
raise  tip  the  broken-hearted  and  repenting 
youth  ;  but  he  would  often  say :  "  Oh  !  how 
nearly  had  you  reached  your  last  trial  and 
gained  the  victory,  and  looked  on  Yerena's 
countenance,  and  atoned  for  all !  Now  you 
have  thrown  yourself  back  for  years.  Think, 
my  son,  on  the  shortness  of  man's  life;  if 
you  are  always  falling  back  anew,  how  will 
you  ever  reach  the  summit  on  this  side  the 
grave  ?" 

Years  came  and  went,  and  Biorn's  hair 
was  white  as  snow,  and  the  youth  Sintram 
had  reached  the  middle  age ;  old  Rolf  was 
now  scarcely  able  to  leave  the  stone  fortress ; 
and  sometimes  he  said :  "  I  feel  it  a  burden 
that  my  life  should  yet  be  prolonged,  but 
also  there  is  much  comfort  in  it,  for  I  shall 
think  that  the  good  God  has  in  store  for  me 
here  below  some  great  happiness ;  and  it 
must  be  something  in  which  you  are  con- 
cerned, my  beloved  Sir  Sintram,  for  what 
else  in  the  whole  world  could  rejoice  my 
heart  ?" 

But,  nevertheless,  everything  remained  as 
it  was,  only  Sintram's  fearful  dreams  at 
Christmas  time  each  year  rather  increased 


AND    HIS    COMPANIONS.  195 

than  diminished  in  horror.  Again,  the  holy 
season  was  drawing  near,  and  the  mind  of 
the  sorely  afflicted  knight  was  more  troubled 
than  ever  before.  Sometimes,  if  he  had  been 
reckoning  up  the  nights  which  were  yet  to 
elapse  before  it,  a  cold  sweat  would  stand  on 
his  forehead,  while  he  said :  "  Mark  my 
words,  dear  old  foster-father,  this  time  some- 
thing most  awfully  decisive  lies  before  me." 

One  evening  he  felt  an  overwhelming  anx- 
iety about  his  father.  It  seemed  to  him  that 
the  Prince  of  Darkness  was  going  up  to 
Biorn's  castle ;  and  in  vain  did  Eolf  remind 
him  that  the  snow  was  lying  deep  in  the  val- 
leys, in  vain  did  he  suggest  that  the  knight 
might  be  overtaken  by  his  frightful  dreams 
in  the  lonely  mountains  during  the  night- 
time. "  Nothing  can  be  worse  to  me  than 
remaining  here  would  be,"  replied  Sin  tram. 

He  took  his  horse  from  the  stable,  and 
rode  forth  in  the  gathering  darkness.  The 
noble  steed  slipped  and  stumbled,  and  fell  in 
the  trackless  ways,  but  his  rider  always  rais- 
ed him  up  and  urged  him  only  more  swiftly 
and  eagerly  towards  the  object  which  he 
longed  and  yet  dreaded  to  reach.  Neverthe- 
less, he  might  never  have  arrived  at  it,  had 
not  his  faithful  hound  Skovmark  kept  with 


1 96  SlNTRAM, 

him.  The  dog  sought  out  the  lost  track  for 
his  beloved  master,  and  invited  him  into  it 
with  joyous  barkings,  and  warned  him  by  his 
howls  against  hidden  precipices  and  treach- 
erous ice  under  the  snow.  Thus  they  ar- 
rived about  midnight  at  Biorn's  castle.  The 

o 

windows  of  the  hall  shone  opposite  to  them 
with  a  brilliant  light,  as  though  some  great 
feast  were  being  kept  there, — and  confused 
sounds,  as  of  singing,  met  their  ears.  Sin- 
tram  gave  his  horse  hastily  to  some  retainers 
in  the  courtyard,  and  ran  up  the  steps,  whilst 
Skovmark  stayed  by  the  well-known  horse. 

A  good  esquire  came  towards  Sintram 
within  the  castle,  and  said  :  "  God  be  praised, 
my  dear  master,  that  you  are  come, —  for 
surely  nothing  good  is  going  on  above.  But 
take  heed  to  yourself,  also,  and  be  not  delud- 
ed. Your  father  has  a  guest  with  him, — 
and,  as  I  think,  a  very  evil  one." 

Sintram  shuddered  as  he  threw  open  the 
doors.  A  little  man  in  the  dress  of  a  miner 
was  sitting  with  his  back  towards  him ;  the 
armor  had  been  for  some  time  past  again 
ranged  round  the  stone  table,  so  that  only 
two  places  were  ever  left  empty.  The  seat 
opposite  the  door  had  been  taken  by  Biorn 
of  the  Fiery  Eyes ;  and  the  dazzling  light  of 


AND    HIS    COMPANIONS.  197 

the  torches  fell  upon  his  features  with  such 
a  red  glare,  that  he  most  fully  established 
his  right  to  that  fearful  surname. 

"  Father,  whom  have  you  here  with  you  ?" 
cried  Sintram  ;  and  his  suspicions  rose  to 
certainty  as  the  miner  turned  round,  and  the 
detestable  face  of  the  Little  Master  grinned 
from  under  the  dark  hood  he  wore. 

"  Yes,  just  see,  my  fair  son,"  said  the  wild 
Biorn  ;  "  you  have  not  been  here  for  a  long 
while, — and  so  to-night  this  jolly  comrade 
has  paid  me  a  visit,  and  your  place  has  been 
taken.  But  throw  one  of  the  suits  of  armor 
out  of  the  way,  and  put  a  seat  for  yourself 
instead  of  it, — and  come  and  drink  with  us, 
and  be  merry. " 

"  Yes,  do  so,  Sir  Sintram,"  said  the  Little 
Master,  with  a  laugh.  "  Nothing  worse 
could  come  of  it  than  that  the  broken  pieces 
of  armor  might  clatter  somewhat  strangely 
one  against  the  other ;  or,  at  most,  that  the 
disturbed  spirit  of  him  to  whom  the  suit  be- 
longed, might  look  over  your  shoulder ;  but 
he  would  not  drink  up  any  of  our  wine — 
ghosts  have  nothing  to  do  with  that.  So 
now  fall  to !" 

Biorn  joined  in  the  laughter  of  the  hide- 
ous stranger  with   wild  mirth ;  and  while 
17* 


193  SINTRAM-, 

Sintram  was  mustering  up  his  whole  strength 
not  to  lose  his  senses  at  such  terrible  words, 
find  was  fixing  a  calm  steady  look  on  the 
Little  Master's  face, — the  old  man  cried  out : 

"  Why  do  you  look  at  him  so  ?  Is  it  that 
you  fancy  there  is  a  mirror  before  you  ? 
!N~ow  that  you  are  together  I  do  not  see  it  so 
much ;  but  a  while  ago  I  thought  that  yon 
were  like  enough  to  each  other  to  be  mis- 
taken." 

"God  forbid!"  said  Sintram;  and  he 
walked  up  close  to  the  fearful  apparition, 
saying,  "I  command  you,  detestable  stranger, 
to  depart  from  this  castle,  in  right  of  my 
authority  as  my  father's  heir,  as  a  consecrated 
knight,  and  as  a  Christian  man !" 

Biorn  seemed  as  if  he  wished  to  oppose 
himself  to  this  command  with  all  his  savage 
might.  The  Little  Master  muttered  to  him- 
self, "  You  are  not  by  any  means  the  master 
in  this  house,  pious  knight ;  you  have  never 
lighted  a  fire  on  this  hearth." 

Then  Sintram  drew  the  sword  which  Ga- 
brielle  had  given  him,  held  the  cross  formed 
by  the  hilt  before  the  eyes  of  his  evil  guest, 
and  said  calmly,  but  with  a  powerful  voice, 
"  Worship,  or  fly !" 

And  he  fled!  the  frightful  stranger — he 


AND    HIS    COMPANIONS.  199 

fled  with  such  lightning  speed  that  it  could 
scarcely  be  -seen  whether  he  had  sprung 
through  the  window  or  the  door.  But  in 
going  he  overthrew  some  of  the  armor — the 
tapers  went  out — and  it  seemed  that  the  pale 
blue  flame  which  lighted  up  the  hall  in  a 
marvellous  manner,  gave  a  fulfilment  to  the 
Little  Master's  former  words ;  and  that  the 
spirits  of  those  to  whom  the  armor  had  be- 
longed were  leaning  over  the  table  grinning 
fearfully. 

Both  the  father  and  the  son  were  filled 
with  horror,  but  each  chose  an  opposite  way 
to  save  himself.  Biorn  wished  to  have  his 
hateful  guest  back  again ;  and  the  power  of 
his  will  was  seen  when  the  Little  Master's 
step  resounded  anew  on  the  stairs,  and  his 
hard  brown  hand  shook  the  lock  of  the  door. 
On  the  other  hand,  Sintram  ceased  not  to 
say  within  himself,  "  We  are  lost,  if  he  comes 
back  I  "We  are  lost  to  all  eternity,  if  he 
comes  back!"  And  he  fell  on  his  knees, 
and  prayed  fervently  from  the  depth  of  his 
troubled  heart  to  Father,  Son,  and  Holy 
Spirit.  Then  the  Little  Master  left  the 
door  ;  and  again  Biorn  willed  him  to  return, 
and  again  Siutram's  prayers  drove  him  away. 
So  went  on  this  strife  of  wills  throughout  the 


200  S  I  X  T  R  A  M  , 

long  night ;  and  fierce  whirlwinds  raged  the 
while  around  the  castle,  till  all  the  household 
thought  the  end  of  the  world  was  come.  At 
length  the  dawn  of  morning  appeared  through 
the  windows  of  the  hall — the  fury  of  the 
storm  was  lulled — Biorn  sank  back  power- 
less in  slumber  on  his  seat — peace  and  hope 
were  restored  to  the  inmates  of  the  castle — 
and  Sintram,  pale  and  exhausted,  went  out 
to  breathe  the  dewy  air  of  the  mild  winter's 
morning  before  the  castle-gates. 


AND    HIS    COMPANIONS.  201 


CHAPTER   XXVI. 

r  I  TELE  faithful  Skovmark  followed  his  mas- 
J-  ter,  caressing  him  ;  and  when  Sintram 
fell  asleep  on  a  stone  seat  in  the  wall,  he  lay 
at  his  feet,  keeping  watchful  guard.  Sud- 
denly he  pricked  up  his  ears,  looked  round 
with  delight,  and  bounded  joyfully  down  the 
mountain.  Just  afterwards  the  chaplain  of 
Drontheim  appeared  amongst  the  rocks,  and 
the  good  beast  went  up  to  him  as  if  to  greet 
him,  and  then  again  ran  back  to  the  knight 
to  announce  a  welcome  visitor. 

Sintram  opened  his  eyes,  to  feel  the  pleas- 
ure of  a  child  whose  Christmas-gifts  have 
been  placed  at  his  bedside  to  surprise  him. 
For  the  chaplain  smiled  at  him  as  he  had 
never  yet  seen  him  smile.  There  was  in  it 
a  token  of  victory  and  blessing,  or  at  least 
of  the  near  approach  of  both.  "  You  have 
accomplished  much  yesterday,  very  much," 
said  the  holy  priest,  and  his  hands  were 
joined  and  his  eyes  full  of  bright  tears.  "  I 
thank  God  on  your  behalf,  my  noble  knight. 
Verena  knows  all,  and  she  too  blesses  God. 


202  SlNTRAM, 

I  do  indeed  now  dare  hope  that  the  time  will 
soon  come  when  you  may  appear  before  her. 
But  Sintram,  Sir  Sintram,  there  is  need  of 
haste — for  the  old  man  above  requires  speedy 
aid,  and  you  have  still  a  heavy — as  I  hope 
the  last — yet  a  most  heavy  trial  to  undergo 
for  his  sake.  Arm  yourself,  my  knight,  arm 
yourself  even  with  temporal  weapons.  In 
truth,  this  time  only  spiritual  armor  is 
needed;  but  it  always  befits  a  knight  as  well 
as  a  monk  to  wear,  in  the  decisive  moments 
of  his  life,  the  entire  solemn  garb  of  his  sta- 
tion. If  it  so  please  you,  we  will  go  directly 
to  Drontheim  together.  You  must  return 
thence  to-night.  Such  is  the  tenor  of  the 
hidden  decree,  which  has  been  dimly  un- 
folded to  Yerena's  foresight.  Here  there  is 
yet  much  that  is  wild  and  distracting,  and  you 
have  great  need  to-day  of  calm  preparation." 

With  humble  joy  Sintram  bowed  his  as- 
sent, and  called  for  his  horse  and  for  a  suit 
of  armor.  "  Only,"  added  he,  "  let  not  any 
of  that  armor  be  brought  which  was  last 
night  overthrown  in  the  hall." 

His  orders  were  quickly  obeyed.  The 
arms  which  were  fetched,  adorned  with  fine 
engraved  work,  the  simple  helmet,  formed 
rather  like  that  of  an  esquire  than  a  knight. 


AND    HIS    COMPANIONS.  203 

the  lance  of  almost  gigantic  size,  which  he- 
longed  to  the  suit, — on  all  these  the  chaplain 
gazed  in  deep  thought,  and  with  melancholy 
emotion.  At  last,  when  Sintram,  with  the 
help  of  his  esquires,  was  well-nigh  equipped, 
the  holy  priest  spoke :  "  Wonderful  are  the 
ways  of  God's  providence !  See,  dear  Sin- 
tram,  this  armor  and  this  spear  were  formerly 
those  of  Sir  "Weigand  the  Slender,  and  with 
them  he  did  many  mighty  deeds.  When  he 
was  tended  by  your  mother  in  the  castle, 
and  when  even  your  father  still  showed  him- 
self kind  and  courteous,  he  asked,  as  a  favor, 
that  his  armor  and  his  lance  should  be  al- 
lowed to  hang  in  Biorn's  armory — Weigand 
himself,  as  you  well  know,  intended  to  build 
a  cloister  and  to  live  there  as  a  monk, — and 
he  put  his  old  esquire's  helmet  with  it,  in- 
stead of  another,  because  he  was  yet  wearing 
that  one  when  he  first  saw  the  fair  Yerena's 
angelic  face.  How  wondrously  does  it  now 
come  to  pass,  that  these  very  arms  which 
have  so  long  been  laid  aside,  should  have 
been  brought  to  you  for  the  decisive  hour  of 
your  life !  To  me,  as  far  as  my  short-sighted  » 
human  wisdom  can  tell,  to  me  it  seems  truly 
a  very  solemn  token,  but  one  that  is  full  of 
high  and  glorious  promise." 


204  S  I  N  T  R  A  M  , 

Sintram  stood  now  in  complete  array,  com- 
posed and  stately;  and  from  his  tall  slender 
figure  might  have  been  supposed  still  in  early 
youth,  had  not  the  deep  lines  of  care  which 
furrowed  his  countenance  shown  him  to  be 
advanced  in  years. 

"  Who  has  placed  boughs  on  the  head  of 
my  war-horse  ?"  asked  Sintram  of  the  es- 
quires with  displeasure.  "  I  am  not  a  con- 
queror, nor  a  wedding-guest.  And  besides, 
there  are  no  boughs  now,  but  these  red  and 
vellow  crackling  leaves  of  the  oak,  dull  and 

v  O 

dead  like  the  season  itself." 

"  Sir  knight,  I  know  not  myself,"  answer- 
ed an  esquire,  "  but  it  seemed  to  me  that  I 
could  not  do  otherwise." 

"  Let  it  be,"  said  the  chaplain.  "  I  feel 
that  this  is  also  sent  as  a  token  full  of  mean- 
ing from  the  right  source." 

Then  the  knight  threw  himself  into  his 
saddle ;  the  priest  went  beside  him ;  and 
they  both  rode  slowly  and  silently  towards 
Drontheim.  The  faithful  dog  followed  his 
master.  When  the  lofty  castle  of  Drontheim 
appeared  in  sight,  a  gentle  smile  spread  it- 
self over  Sintram's  countenance,  like  a  gleam 
of  sunshine  on  a  wintry  valley.  "  God  has 
done  great  things  for  me,"  said  he.  "  1 


AND   HIS   COMPANIONS.  205 

once  rushed  from  here,  a  fearfully  wild  boy ; 
I  now  come  back,  a  penitent  man.  I  trust 
that  good  is  yet  in  store  for  my  poor  troubled 
life." 

The  chaplain  assented  kindly,  and  soon 
afterwards  the  travellers  passed  under  the 
echoing  vaulted  gateway  into  the  castle-yard. 
At  a  sign  from  the  priest,  the  retainers  ap- 
proached with  respectful  haste,  and  took 
charge  of  the  horses  ;  then  he  and  Sintram 
went  through  long  winding  passages,  and  up 
many  steps,  to  the  remote  chamber  which 
the  chaplain  had  chosen  for  his  own — far 
away  from  the  noise  of  men,  and  near  to  the 
clouds  and  the  stars.  There  the  two  passed 
a  quiet  day  in  devout  prayer,  and  earnest 
reading  of  Holy  Scripture. 

When  the  evening  began  to  close  in,  the 
chaplain  arose  and  said:  "And  now,  my 
knight,  get  ready  your  horse,  and  mount 
and  ride  back  again  to  your  father's  castle. 
A  toilsome  way  lies  before  you,  and  I  dare 
not  go  with  you.  But  I  can,  and  I  will  call 
upon  the  Lord  for  you,  all  through  the  long, 
fearful  night.  Oh,  beloved  instrument  of 
the  Most  High,  you  will  yet  not  be  lost !" 

Thrilling  with  strange  forebodings,  but 
nevertheless  strong  and  vigorous  in  spirit, 
18 


206  SlNTRAM, 

Sintram  did  according  to  the  holy  man's  de- 
sire. The  snn  set  as  the  knight  approached 
a  long  valley,  strangely  shut  in  by  rocks, 
through  which  lay  the  road  to  his  father's 
castle. 


AND    HIS    COMPANIONS.  207 


CHAPTER   XXVII. 

BEFORE  entering  the  rocky  pass,  the 
knight,  with  a  prayer  and  thanksgiving, 
looked  back  once  more  at  the  castle  of  Dron- 
theim.  There  it  was,  so  vast  and  quiet  and 
peaceful,  the  bright  windows  of  the  chap- 
lain's high  chamber  yet  lighted  up  by  the 
last  gleam  of  the  sun,  which  had  already  dis- 
appeared. In  front  of  Sintram  was  the 
gloomy  valley,  looking  as  if  prepared  to  be 
his  grave. 

Then  there  came  towards  him  some  one 
riding  on  a  small  horse,  and  Skovmark,  who 
had  gone  up  to  the  stranger  as  if  to  find  out 
who  he  was,  now  ran  back  with  his  tail  be- 
tween his  legs  and  his  ears  put  back,  howl- 
ing and  whining,  and  he  crept  terrified 
under  his  master's  war-horse.  But  even  the 
noble  steed  appeared  to  have  forgotten  his 
once  so  fearless  and  warlike  ardor.  He 
trembled  violently,  and  when  the  knight 
would  have  turned  him  towards  the  stranger, 
he  reared  and  snorted  and  plunged,  and  be- 
gan to  throw  himself  backwards.  It  was 


208  Si  NT  RAM, 

only  with  difficulty  that  Sintram's  strength 
and  horsemanship  got  the  better  of  him,  and 
he  was  all  white  with  foam  when  Sintram 
came  up  to  the  unknown  traveller. 

"  You  have  cowardly  animals  with 
you,"  said  the  latter,  in  a  low  smothered 
voice. 

Sintram  was  unable,  in  the  ever-increas- 
ing darkness,  rightly  to  distinguish  what 
kind  of  being  he  saw  before  him  ;  only  a 
very  pallid  face,  which  at  first  he  had 
thought  was  covered  with  freshly  fallen 
snow,  met  his  eyes  from  amidst  the  long 
hanging  garments  in  which  the  figure  was 
clothed.  It  seemed  that  the  stranger  earned 
a  small  box,  wrapped  up ;  his  little  horse,  as 
if  wearied  out,  bent  his  head  down  towards 
the  ground,  whereby  a  bell,  which  hung  from 
the  wretched  torn  bridle  under  his  neck,  was 
made  to  give  a  strange  sound.  After  a  short 
silence,  Sintram  replied :  £i  Koble  steeds 
avoid  those  of  a  worse  race,  because  they  are 
ashamed  of  them  ;  and  the  boldest  dogs  are 
attacked  by  a  secret  terror  at  sight  of  forms 
to  which  they  are  not  accustomed.  I  have 
no  cowardly  animals  with  me." 

"Good,  sir  knight,  then  ride  with  me 
through  the  valley." 


AND    HIS    COMPANIONS.  209 

"  I  am  going  through  the  valley,  but  I 
want  no  companions." 

"  But  perhaps  I  want  one.  Do  you  not 
see  that  I  am  unarmed  ?  And  at  this  season, 
at  this  hour,  there  are  frightful,  unearthly 
beasts  about." 

Just  then,  as  if  to  confirm  the  awful  words 
of  the  stranger,  a  thing  swung  itself  down 
from  one  of  the  nearest  trees  covered  with 
hoar-frost — no  one  could  say  if  it  were  a 
snake  or  a  lizard — it  curled  and  twisted  itself, 
and  appeared  to  be  going  to  slide  down  upon 
the  knight  or  his  companion.  Sintram 
levelled  his  spear,  and  pierced  the  creature 
through.  But  with  the  most  hideous  con- 
tortions it  fixed  itself  firmly  on  the  spear- 
head, and  in  vain  did  the  knight  endeavor 
to  rab  it  off  against  the  rocks  or  the  trees. 
Then  he  let  his  spear  rest  upon  his  right 
shoulder,  with  the  point  behind  him,  so  that 
the  horrible  beast  no  longer  met  his  sight, 
and  he  said  with  good  courage  to  the 
stranger,  "  It  does  seem  indeed  that  I  could 
help  you,  and  I  am  not  forbidden  to  have  an 
unknown  stranger  in  my  company ;  so  let  us 
push  on  bravely  into  the  valley !" 

"  Help !"  so  resounded  the  solemn  answer. 
"  Not  help.  I,  perhaps,  may  help  thee.  But 
18* 


210  SIXTRAM, 

God  have  mercy  upon  thee,  if  the  time  should 
ever  come  when  I  could  no  longer  help  thee. 
Then  thou  wouldst  be  lost,  and  I  should  be- 
come very  frightful  to  thee.  But  we  will  go 
through  the  valley,  I  have  thy  knightly  word 
for  it."  Come!" 

They  rode  forward,  Sintram's  horse  still 
showing  signs  of  fear,  the  faithful  dog  still 
whining,  but  both  obedient  to  their  master's 
will.  The  knight  was  cahn  and  steadfast. 
The  snow  had  slipped  down  from  the  smooth 
rocks,  and  by  the  light  of  the  rising  moon 
could  be  seen  various  strange  twisted 
shapes  on  their  sides,  some  looking  like 
snakes,  and  some  like  human  faces ;  but  they 
were  only  formed  by  the  veins  in  the  rock, 
and  the  half  bare  roots  of  trees  which  had 
planted  themselves  in  that  desert  place  with 
capricious  firmness.  High  above,  and  at  a 
great  distance,  the  castle  of  Drontheim,  as  if 
to  take  leave,  appeared  again  through  an 
opening  in  the  rocks.  The  knight  then 
looked  keenly  at  his  companion,  and  he 
almost  felt  as  if  Weigand  the  Slender  were 
riding  beside  him.  '•  In  God's  name,"  cried 
he,  "  art  thou  not  the  shade  of  that  departed 
knight  who  suffered  and  died  for  Yerena  ?" 

"  I  have  not  suffered,  I  have  not  died,  but 


AND   HIS   COMPANIONS.  211 

ye  suffer  and  ye  die,  poor  mortals!"  mur- 
mured the  stranger.  "  I  am  not  Weigand. 
I  am  that  other  one,  who  was  so  like  him, 
and  whom  thou  hast  also  met  before  now  in 
the  wood." 

Sintram  strove  to  free  himself  from  the 
terror  which  came  over  him  at  these  words, 
lie  looked  at  his  horse ;  it  appeared  to  him 
entirely  altered.  The  dry,  many-colored  oak- 
leaves  on  its  head  were  waving  like  the  flames 
around  a  sacrifice,  in  the  uncertain  moon- 
light. He  looked  down  again  to  see  after 
his  faithful  Skovmark.  Fear  had  likewise 
most  wondrously  changed  him.  On  the 
ground  in  the  middle  of  the  road  were 
lying  dead  men's  bones,  and  hideous  lizards 
were  crawling  about,  and,  in  defiance  of  the 
wintry  season,  poisonous  mushrooms  were 
growing  up  all  around. 

"  Can  this  be  still  my  horse  on  which  I  am 
riding,"  said  the  knight  to  himself  in  a  low 
voice ;  "  and  can  that  trembling  beast  which 
runs  at  my  side  be  my  own  dog?" 

Then  some  one  called  after  him,  in  a  yell- 
ing voice,  "  Stop !  stop !  Take  me  also  with 
you!'' 

Looking  round,  Sintram  perceived  a  small 
frightful  figure,  with  horns,  and  a  face  partly 


212  SlNTBAM, 

like  a  wild-boar  and  partly  like  a  bear,  walk- 
ing along  on'  its  liind  legs,  which  were  those 
of  a  horse,  and  in  its  hand  was  a  strange 
hideous  weapon  shaped  like  a  hook  or  a 
sickle.  It  was  the  being  who  had  been  wont 
to  trouble  him  in  his  dreams,  and  alas !  it 
was  also  the  wretched  Little  Master  himself, 
who,  laughing  wildly,  stretched  out  a  long 
claw  towards  the  knight. 

The  bewildered  Sintram  murmured:  "I 
must  have  fallen  asleep !  and  now  my  dreams 
are  coming  over  me !" 

"  You.  are  awake,"  replied  the  rider  of  the 
little  horse,  "  but  you  know  me  also  in  your 
dreams.  For  behold  !  I  am  Death."  And 
his  garments  fell  from  him,  and  there  ap- 
peared a  mouldering  skeleton,  its  ghastly 
head  crowned  with  serpents ;  that  which  he 
had  kept  hidden  under  his  mantle  was  an 
hour-glass,  with  the  sand  almost  run  out. 
Death  held  it  towards  the  knight,  in  his  flesh- 
less  hand.  The  bell  at  the  neck  of  the  little 
horse  gave  forth  a  solemn  sound.  It  was  a 
passing-bell. 

"  Lord,  into  Thy  hands  I  commend  my 
spirit !"  prayed  Sintram ;  and  full  of  earnest 
devotion  he  rode  after  Death,  who  beckoned 
him  on. 


AND    HIS     COMPANIONS.         213 

"  He  has  not  got  you  yet !  He  has  not 
got  you  yet !"  screamed  the  fearful  fiend. 
"  Give  yourself  up  to  me  rather.  In  one  in- 
stant,— for  swift  are  your  thoughts,  swift  is 
my  might, — in  one  instant  you  shall  be  in 
Normandy.  Helen  yet  blooms  in  beauty  as 
when  she  departed  hence,  and  this  very  night 
she  would  be  yours."  And  once  again  he 
began  his  unholy  praises  of  Gabrielle's  love- 
liness, and  Sintram's  heart  glowed  like  wild- 
fire in  his  weak  breast. 

Death  said  nothing  more,  but  raised  the  hour- 
glass in  his  right  hand  yet  higher  and  higher, 
and  as  the  sand  now  ran  out  more  quickly, 
a  soft  light  streamed  from  the  glass  over  Sin- 
tram's  countenance,  and  then  it  seemed  to 
him  as  if  eternity  in  all  its  calm  majesty 
were  rising  before  him,  and  a  world  of  con- 
fusion dragging  him  back  with  a  deadly  grasp. 
"  I  command  thee,  wild  form  that  follow- 
est  me,"  cried  he,  '•'  I  command  thee,  in  the 
name  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  to  cease  from 
thy  seducing  words,  and  to  call  thyself  by 
that  name  by  which  thou  art  recorded  in 
Holy  Writ !"  A  name,  which  sounded  more 
fearful  than  a  thunder-clap,  burst  despairing- 
ly from  the  lips  of  the  Tempter,  and  he  dis- 
appeared. 


214  SlNTRAH, 

"  He  will  return  no  more,"  said  Death,  in 
a  kindly  tone. 

"  And  now  I  am  become  wholly  thine,  my 
stern  companion  ?" 

"  Not  yet,  my  Sintrara.  I  shall  not  come 
to  thee  till  many,  many  years  are  past.  But 
thou  must  not  forget  me  the  while." 

"  I  will  keep  the  thought  of  thee  steadily 
before  my  soul,  thou  fearful  yet  wholesome 
monitor,  thou  awful  yet  loving  guide  1" 

"  Oh  !  I  can  truly  appear  very  gentle." 
And  so  it  proved  indeed.  His  form  became 
more  softly  defined  in  the  increasing  gleam 
of  light  which  shone  from  the  hour-glass,  the 
features  which  had  been  awful  in  their  stern- 
ness wore  a  gentle  smile,  the  crown  of  ser- 
pents became  a  bright  palm-wreath,  instead 
of  the  horse  appeared  a  white  misty  cloud  on 
which  the  moonbeams  played,  and  the  bell 
gave  forth  sounds  as  of  sweet  lullabies.  Sm- 
tram  thought  he  could  hear  these  words 
amidst  them : 

"  The  world  and  Satan  are  o'ercome, 
Before  thee  gleams  eternal  light. 

Warrior,  who  hast  won  the  strife, 
Save  from  darkest  shades  of  night 

Him  before  whose  aged  eyes 
All  my  terrors  soon  shall  rise." 


AND    HIS    COMPANIONS.          215 

The  knight  well  knew  that  his  father  was 
meant,  and  he  urged  on  his  noble  steed,  who 
now  obeyed  his  master  willingly  and  gladly, 
find  the  faithful  dog  also  again  ran  beside 
him  fearlessly.  Death  had  disappeared,  but 
in  front  of  Sintram  there  floated  a  bright 
morning  cloud,  which  continued  visible  after 
the  sun  had  risen  in  the  clear  winter  sky,  to 
cheer  and  warm  the  earth. 


216  SlNTRAM, 


CHAPTER    XXVIII. 

tt  TTE  is  dead !  the  horrors  of  that  fearful 
JLJL  night  of  storm  and  tempest  have 
killed  him!"  Thus  said,  about  this  time, 
some  of  Biorn's  retainers,  who  had  not 
been  able  to  bring  him  back  to  his  senses 
since  the  morning  of  the  day  before ;  they 
had  made  a  couch  of  wolf  and  bear  skins  for 
him  in  the  great  hall,  in  the  midst  of  the 
armor  which  still  lay  scattered  around.  One 
of  the  esquires  said  with  a  low  sigh  :  "  The 
Lord  have  mercy  on  his  poor  wild  soul." 

Just  then  the  warder  blew  his  horn  from 
his  tower,  and  a  trooper  came  into  the  room 
with  a  look  of  surprise.  "  A  knight  is  com- 
ing towards  here,"  said  he;  "a  wonderful 
knight.  I  could  have  taken  him  for  our  lord 
Sintram — 'but  a  bright,  bright  morning-cloud 
floats  so  close  before  him,  and  throws  over 
him  such  clear  light,  that  one  could  fancy 
red  flowers  were  showered  down  upon  him. 
Besides,  his  horse  has  a  reddish  wreath  of 
flowers  on  his  head,  which  was  never  a  cus- 
tom of  the  son  of  our  dead  lord." 


AND     HIS     Go  1!  PAX  IONS.  217 

"  It  was  exactly  such  a  one,"  replied  an- 
other, "  that  I  wove  for  him  yesterday.  He 
was  not  pleased  with  it  at  first,  but  after- 
wards he  let  it  remain." 

"But  why  did  you  do  that?" 

"  It  seemed  to  me  as  if  I  heard  a  voice 
singing  again  and  again  in  my  ear:  '  Yicto- 
ry !  victory !  the  noblest  victory !  The 
knight  rides  forth  to  victory !'  And  then  I 
saw  a  branch  of  our  oldest  oak  tree  stretched 
towards  me,  which  had  kept  on  almost  all 
its  red  and  yellow  leaves  in  spite  of  the 
snow.  So  I  did  according  to  what  I  had 
heard  sung;  and  I  plucked  some  of  the 
leaves,  and  wove  a  triumphal  wreath  for  the 
noble  war-horse.  At  the  same  time  Skov- 
rnark, — you  know  that  the  faithful  beast  had 
always  a  great  dislike  to  Biorn,  and  there- 
fore had  gone  to  the  stable  with  the  horse, — 
Skovmark  jumped  upon  me,  fawning  and 
seeming  pleased,  as  if  he  wanted  to  thank 
me  for  my  work ;  and  such  noble  animals 
understand  well  about  good  prognostics." 

They  heard  the  sound  of  Sintram's  spurs 
on  the  stone  steps  and  Skovmark's  joyous 
bark.  At  that  instant  the  supposed  corpse  of 
old  Biorn  sat  up, — looked  around  with  roll- 
ing, staring  eyes, — and  asked  of  the  terrified 
19 


218  Si  NT  RAM, 

retainers  in  a  hollow  voice:  ""Who  comes 
there,  ye  people  ?  who  comes  there  ?  I  know 
it  is  my  son.  But  who  comes  with  him  ? 
On  the  answer  to  that  hangs  the  decision  of 
my  fate.  For  see,  good  people,  Gotthard 
and  Rudlieb  have  prayed  much  for  me :  yet 
if  the  Little  Master  comes  with  him,  I  am 
lost  in  spite  of  them  !" 

"  You  are  not  lost,  my  beloved  father !" 
Sintram's  kind  voice  was  heard  to  say,  as  he 
softly  opened  the  door,  and  the  bright  red 
morning-cloud  floated  in  with  him. 

Biorn  joined  his  hands,  cast  a  look  of 
thankfulness  up  to  Heaven,  and  said,  smil- 
ing :  "  Yes,  praised  be  God !  it  is  the  right 
companion !  It  is  sweet  gentle  Death !" 
And  then  he  made  a  sign  to  his  son  to  ap- 
proach, saying :  "  Come  here,  my  deliverer ; 
come,  blessed  of  the  Lord,  that  I  may  relate 
to  you  all  that  has  passed  within  me." 

As  Sin  tram  now  sat  close  by  his  father's 
couch,  all  who  were  in  the  room  perceived  a 
remarkable  and  striking  change.  For  old 
Biorn,  whose  whole  countenance,  and  not  his 
eyes  alone,  had  been  wont  to  have  a  fiery 
aspect, — was  now  quite  pale,  almost  like 
white  marble  :  while,  on  the  other  hand,  the 
cheeks  of  the  once  deadly-pale  Sintram  glow- 


AND    HIS    COMPANIONS.  219 

ed  with  a  bright  bloom  like  that  of  early 
youth.  It  was  caused  by  the  morning-cloud 
which  still  shone  upon  him,  and  the  presence 
of  which  in  the  room  was  rather  felt  than 
seen ;  but  it  produced  a  gentle  thrill  in  every 
heart. 

"  See,  my  son,"  began  the  old  man,  softly 
and  mildly,  "  I  have  lain  for  a  long  time  in 
a  death-like  sleep,  and  have  known  nothing 
of  what  was  going  on  around  me ;  but  with- 
in,— ah !  within,  I  have  had  but  too  entire 
consciousness !  I  thought  that  my  soul  would 
be  destroyed  by  the  eternal  anguish ;  and 
yet  again  I  felt  with  much  greater  horror, 
that  my  soul  was  undying  like  that  anguish. 
Beloved  son,  your  cheeks  that  glowed  so 
brightly  are  beginning  to  grow  pale  at  my 
words.  I  refrain  from  more.  But  let  me 
relate  to  you  something  more  cheering  :  far, 
far  away,  I  could  see  a  bright,  lofty  church, 
where  Gotthard  and  Rudlieb  Lenz  were 
kneeling  and  praying  for  me.  Gotthard 
had  grown  very  old,  and  looked  like  one  of 
our  mountains  covered  with  snow,  on  which 
the  evening  sun  is  shining;  and  Rudlieb 
was  also  an  elderly  man,  but  very  vigorous 
and  very  strong;  and  they  both,  with  al] 
their  strength  and  vigor,  were  calling  upon 


220  SlNTRAM, 

God  to  aid  me,  tlieir  enemy.  Then  I  heard 
a  voice  like  that  of  an  angel,  saying :  '  His 
son  does  the  most  for  him !  lie  must  this 
nidit  wrestle  with  Death  and  with  the  Fall- 

o 

en  One  !  His  victory  will  be  victory, — and 
his  defeat  will  be  defeat,  for  the  old  man  as 
v  ell  as  for  himself.'  Thereupon  I  awoke  ; 
and  I  knew  that  all  depended  upon  whom 
you  would  bring  with  you.  You  have  con- 
quered. Next  to  God,  the  praise  be  to 
you !" 

"  Gotthard  and  Kudlieb  have  helped 
much,"  replied  Sintram ;  "  and,  beloved 
father,  so  have  the  fervent  prayers  of  the 
chaplain  of  Drontheim.  I  felt,  in  the  midst 
of  temptation  and  deadly  fear,  how  the 
heaven-directed  prayers  of  good  men  floated 
round  me  and  aided  me." 

"  I  am  most  willing  to  believe  that,  my 
noble  son,  and  everything  you  say  to  me," 
answered  the  old  man  :  and  at  the  same  mo- 
ment the  chaplain  also  coming  in,  Biorn 
stretched  out  his  hand  towards  him  with  a 
smile  of  peace  and  joy.  And  now  all  seem- 
ed to  be  surrounded  with  a  bright  circle  of 
unity  and  blessedness.  "  But  see,"  said  old 
Biorn,  "how  the  faithful  Skovmark  jumps 
upon  me  now,  and  tries  to  caress  me.  It  is 


AND    HT s    COMPANIONS.  221 

not  long  since  he  used  always  to  howl  with 
terror  when  he  saw  me." 

"  My  dear  lord,"  said  the  chaplain,  "  there 
is  a  spirit  dwelling  in  good  beasts,  although 
they  are  unconscious  of  it." 

As  the  day  wore  on,  the  stillness  in  the 
hall  increased.  The  last  hour  of  the  aged 
knight  was  drawing  near,  but  he  met  it 
calmly  and  fearlessly.  The  chaplain  and 
Sintram  prayed  beside  his  couch.  The  re- 
tainers knelt  devoutly  around.  At  length 
the  dying  man  said :  "  Is  that  the  vesper- 
bell  in  Verena's  cloister  ?"  and  Sintram  made 
a  sign  to  express  his  undoubting  belief  that 
it  was,  while  warm  tears  fell  on  the  colorless 
cheeks  of  his  father.  A  gleam  shone  in  the 
old  man's  eyes, — the  morning-cloud  stood 
close  over  him,  and  then  the  gleam,  the 
morning-cloud,  and  life  with  them  departed 

from  him. 

19* 


222  SlNTRAM, 


CHAPTER    XXIX. 

FEW  days  afterwards  Sintram  stood  in 
the  parlor  of  the  convent,  and  waited 
with  a  beating  heart  for  his  mother  to  appear. 
He  had  seen  her  for  the  last  time,  when,  a 
slumbering  child,  he  had  been  awoke  by  her 
tender,  farewell  kisses,  and  then  had  fallen 
asleep  again  to  wonder  in  his  dreams  what 
his  mother  had  wanted  with  him,  and  to 
seek  her  in  vain  the  next  morning  in  the 
castle  and  in  the  garden.  The  chaplain  was 
now  at  his  side,  rejoicing  in  the  chastened 
rapture  of  the  knight,  whose  fierce  spirit  had 
been  overcome,  on  whose  cheeks  a  soft  reflec- 
tion of  that  solemn  morning  cloud  yet  lingered. 
The  inner  doors  opened. — In  her  white 
veil,  stately  and  noble,  the  lady  Verena  came 
forward,  and  with  a  heavenly  smile  she 
beckoned  her  son  to  approach  the  grating. 
There  could  be  no  thought  here  of  any  pas- 
sionate outbreak,  whether  of  sorrow  or  of 
joy.*  The  holy  peace  which  had  its  abodo 

*  '•'  In  whose  sweet  presence  sorrow  dares  not  lower, 

Nor  expectation  rise, 
Too  high  for  earth."        Christian  Year. 


AND  HIS   COMPANIONS.  223 

within  these  walls,  would  have  found  its  way 
to  a  heart  less  tried  and  less  purified  than 
that  which  beats  in  Sintram's  bosom.  Shed- 
ding some  placid  tears,  the  son  knelt  before 
his  mother,  kissed  her  flowing  garments 
through  the  grating,  and  felt  as  if  he  were 
in  Paradise, — where  every  wish  and  every 
care  is  hushed.  "  Beloved  mother,"  said  he, 
"  let  me  become  a  recluse  like  you.  Then  I 
will  betake  myself  to  the  cloister  yonder ; 
and  perhaps  I  might  one  day  be  deemed 
worthy  to  be  .your  confessor,  if  illness  or  the 
weekness  of  old  age  should  keep  the  good 
chaplain  within  the  castle  of  Drontheim." 

"That  would  be  a  sweet,  quietly-happy 
life,  my  good  child,"  replied  the  lady  Vere- 
na ;  "  but  such  is  not  your  vocation.  You 
must  continue  to  be  a  bold,  powerful  knight, 
and  you  must  spend  the  long  life  which  is 
almost  always  granted  to  us,  children  of  the 
north,  in  succoring  the  weak,  in  keeping 
down  the  lawless,  and  in  yet  another  more 
bright  and  honorable  employment  which  I 
now  rather  dimly  foresee,  than  clearly 
know." 

"  God's  will  be  done !"  said  the  knight, 
and  he  rose  up  full  of  self-devotion  and  firm- 
ness. 


224  SlNTRAM, 

"  That  is  my  good  son,"  said  the  lady  Ye- 
rena.  "  Ah !  how  many  sweet  calm  joys 
spring  up  for  us  !  See,  already  is  our  long- 
ing desire  of  meeting  again  satisfied,  and  you 
will  never  more  be  so  entirely  estranged  from 
me.  Every  week  on  this  day  you  will  come 
back  to  me,  and  you  will  relate  what  glori- 
ous deeds  you  have  done,  and  take  back  with 
you  my  advice  and  my  blessing." 

"  Am  I  not  once  more  a  good  and  happy 
child  !"  cried  Sintram  joyously  ;  "  only  that 
the  merciful  God  has  given  me  in  addition 
the  strength  of  a  man  in  body  and  spirit. 
Oh !  how  blessed  is  that  son  to  whom  it  is 
allowed  to  gladden  his  mother's  heart  with 
the  blossoms  and  the  fruit  of  his  life !" 

Thus  he  left  the  quiet  cloister's  shade,  joy- 
ful in  spirit  and  richly  laden  with  blessings, 
to  enter  on  his  noble  career.  He  was  not 
content  with  going  about  wherever  there 
might  be  a  rightful  cause  to  defend,  or  evil 
to  be  averted ;  the  gates  of  the  now  hospit- 
able castle  stood  always  open  also  to  receive 
and  shelter  every  stranger, — and  old  Rolf, 
who  was  almost  grown  young  again  at  sight 
of  his  lord's  excellence,  was  established  as 
seneschal.  The  winter  of  Sintram's  life  set 
in  bright  and  glorious,  and  it  was  only  at 


AND  HI«   COMPANIONS.  225 

times  that  he  would  sigh  within  himself  and 
say:  "Ah!  Montfaugon,  ah!  Gabrielle,  if  I 
could  dare  to  hope  that  you  have  quite  for- 
given me  1" 


226  SlNTRAM, 


CHAPTER  XXX. 

THE  spring  had  come  in  its  brightness  to 
that  northern  land,  when  one  morning 
Sintram  turned  his  horse  homewards  after  a 
successful  encounter  with  one  of  the  most 
formidable  disturbers  of  the  peace  of  his 
neighborhood.  His  horsemen  rode  after 
him,  singing  as  they  went.  As  they  drew 
near  the  castle  they  heard  the  sound  of  joy- 
ous notes  wound  on  the  horn.  "  Some  wel- 
come visitor  must  have  arrived,"  said  the 
knight,  and  he  spurred  his  horse  to  a  quicker 
pace  over  the  dewy  meadow.  "While  still  at 
some  distance,  they  descried  old  Rolf  busily 
engaged  in  preparing  a  table  for  the  morn- 
ing meal,  under  the  trees  in  front  of  the 
castle  gates.  From  all  the  turrets  and  bat- 
tlements floated  banners  and  flags  in  the 
fresh  morning  breeze.  Esquires  were  run- 
ning to  and  fro  in  their  gayest  apparel.  As 
soon  as  the  good  Rolf  saw  his  master,  he 
clapped  his  hands  joyfully  over  his  gray 
head,  and  hastened  into  the  castle.  Imme- 
diately the  wide  gates  were  thrown  open, 


AND   HIS   COMPANIONS.  227 

and  Sintram,  as  lie  entered,  was  met  by 
Rolf,  whose  eyes  were  filled  with  tears  of 
joy  as  he  pointed  towards  three  noble  forms 
that  were  following  him. 

Two  men  of  high  stature, — one  in  extreme 
old  age,  the  other  gray-headed,  and  both  re- 
markably alike, — were  leading  between  them 
a  fair  young  boy,  in  a  page's  dress  of  blue 
velvet,  richly  embroidered  with  gold.  The 
two  old  men  wore  the  dark  velvet  dress  of 
German  burghers,  and  had  massive  gold 
chains  and  large  shining  medals  hanging 
round  their  necks. 

Sintram  had  never  before  seen  his  honored 
guests,  and  yet  he  felt  as  if  they  were  well 
known  and  valued  friends.  The  very  aged 
man  reminded  him  of  his  dying  father's 
words  about  the  snow-covered  mountains 
lighted  up  by  the  evening  sun  ;  and  then  he 
remembered,  he  could  scarcely  tell  how,  that 
he  had  heard  Folko  say  that  one  of  the 
highest  mountains  of  that  sort  in  his  southern 
land  was  called  the  St.  Ootthard.  And  at 
the  same  time  he  knew  that  the  old  but  yet 
vigorous  man  on  the  other  side  was  named 
Hudlieb.  But  the  boy  who  stood  between 
them, — ah !  Sintram's  humility  dare  scarcely 
form  a  hope  as  to  who  he  might  be,  however 


228  SiNTRAM, 

much  his  features,  so  noble  and  soft,  called  up 
two  highly  honored  images  before  his  mind. 

Then  the  aged  Gotthard  Lenz,  the  prince 
of  old  men,  advanced  with  a  solemn  step, 
and  said  :  "  This  is  the  noble  boy  Engeltram 
of  Montfaucon,  the  only  son  of  the  great 
baron  ;  and  his  father  and  mother  send  him 
to  you,  Sir  Sintram,  knowi'ng  well  your  holy 
and  glorious  knightly  career,  that  you  may 
bring  him  up  to  all  the  honorable  and  valiant 
deeds  of  this  northern  land,  and  may  make 
of  him  a  Christian  knight,  like  yourself." 

Sintram  threw  himself  from  his  horse. 
Engeltram  of  Montfaucon  held  the  stirrup 
gracefully  for  him,  checking  the  retainers, 
who  pressed  forward,  with  these  words  :  "  I 
am  the  noblest  born  esquire  of  this  knight, 
and  the  service  nearest  to  his  person  belongs 
to  me." 

Sintram  knelt  on  the  turf  to  offer  a  silent 
prayer ;  then  lifting  up  the  image  of  Folko 
and  Gabrielle  in  his  arms,  towards  the  rising 
sun,  he  cried :  "  With  the  help  of  God,  my 
Engeltram,  you  will  become  glorious  as  that 
sun,  and  your  course  will  be  like  his !" 

And  Rolf  said,  as  he  wept  for  joy,  "  Lord, 
now  lettest  Thou  Thy  servant  depart  in 
peace." 


AND    HIS    COMPANIONS.  229 

Gotthard  Lenz  and  Kudlieb  were  pressed 
to  Sintram's  heart;  the  chaplain  of  Dron- 
theim,  who  just  then  caine  from  Yerena's 
cloister,  to  bring  a  joyful  greeting  to  her 
brave  son,  stretched  out  his  hands  to  bless 
them  all. 


THE   END. 


'S8)~~Z-S3 


